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MAKERS 



OF 



PHILADELPHIA 



/J 6 



AN HISTORICAL WORK 



GIVING PORTRAITS AND SKETCHES OF THE MOST EMINENT CITIZENS 

OE PHILADELPHIA EROM THE TIME OF WILLIAM PENN 

TO THE PRESENT DAY. 



EDITED BY 

CHARLBS MORRIS. 



PUBLISHED BY 

L. R. HAMERSLY & CO., 

I'HILADELI'HIA, PA. 
1894. 



No.AOS 



Copyright, 1894, by L. R. Hamersly & Co. 



Printed by J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia. 



PREFACE. 



TiiK history ol a cily is, to a very considerable extent, the history- of the men who, by their 
energy, ability, and [)ublic spirit, have made it what it is ; the men to whose well-directed efforts 
is due the develo[jment of its municipal institLitions, industrial interests, and standing in public 
estimation. This ma\- be particularly said of Pliiladclphia, which has been the nursery of a suc- 
cession of able and patriotic citizens, whose inlluence has been steadily felt in the growth of its 
civic institutions, while many of tlvnn have won a reputation that extends throughout the civilized 
world. These men have been, in the fullest sense, the "Makers of Philadelphia," and deserve 
all tile honor that can be given them by placing on record their careers. To them the city 
owes its origin and its prosperity, and it is due to tliem that the story of their lives and doin^rs 
shall be preserved for future generations of I'hiladelphians to read and take example from. 

bi this work are included biographical sketches of tlu,- Philadelphians who have been most 
eminent in commercial and mercantile business, and those whose professional, legislative, and 
scientific careers have been most marked and valuable. Among them are included great doctors, 
jurists, theoK^gians, statesmen, authors, scientists, soldiers, merchants, antl manufacturers ; men 
who played a leading part in colonial days, who lived through the stirring epoch of the Revo- 
lutionary War, who at a later period aided the industrial and commercial growth of the city, 
who fought for the Union in the Civil War, and who, tluring the recent period of rapitl municipal 
improvement and manufacturing and commercial development, were the men who gave this city 
its prominent position among the leading cities of the world. 

To all those who take pride in the record of the good city of Brotherly Love the work 
here offered is, in an ample sense, a history of that cit)', since it is the history of the men who, 
during the years of its growth, were its leatling and inspiring spirits, and of those who to-day 
are actively engaged in laying f(jr it the foundations of a marked and memorable future. Here 
may be read the life-story and seen the pictured lineaments of such witlely-known men as 
William Penn, the great founder of a noble commonwealth ; Benjamin Franklin, pre-eminent 



PREFACE. 



among the Americans of the last century : Robert Alorris, the financial saviour of the Revolu- 
tion ; David Rittenhouse, the first among American astronomers; Stephen Girard, the pioneer of 
American philanthropists ; Alexander Wilson, the eminent ornithologist ; Matthias W. Baldwin, 
the father of the American locomotive ; Generals McClellan and Meade, whose records were so 
brilliant in the Civil War; Anthony J. Drexel, the banker of two continents; George \\'. Childs, 
the great philanthropist who has just passed away ; and dozens of others whose names are 
familiar far beyond the boundaries of the city they honored with their residence and aided by 
their labors. 

This work, however, needs no eulogistic preface. It speaks for itself. Alike as a magnifi- 
cent example of the art ot book-making, and tor the permanent value of its contents, it appeals 
to every Philadelphian, and must long be cherished with jiride as the roll of honor of those to 
whom the city owes alike its tame, its growth, and its prosperity. 

We cannot end, however, without returning thanks to the many friends who have so kindly 
supplied information, not otherwise attainable, concerning the lives of important individuals ; and 
in particular to Mr. Charles R. Hildeburn, to whose generous contrilnitions from his unrivalled 
collection of portraits of distinguished Philadelphians the book owes much of its value as a 
picture-gallery of the leaders of our city. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



WILLIAM PENN. 

The " ALikinjj of I'hihulclphia" began in iTjSj, in w liicli 
year William Pcnn, born a Cavalier, but become a Oiiaker 
through religious conx'ictions, crossed the ocean to the 
New Workl to take possession of the great province 



deeded to him b\- Charles II., Kine of Imil 



Wi 



might say that, in a certain sense, Philadelphia crossed 
the ocean with him ; for the project and plan of the 
coming city were in his mind, and some of its distinguish- 
ing features as we now behold it weie dexised before its 
founder had set eyes on America. The site selected for 
it was then a forest-co\ere(.l ti'.ict between two ri\crs, in- 
habited b\- Indians and b)- a few Swedish settlers. When 
Penn kinded on its site there were colonists there to meet 
him, some of them bus_\- in building a low wooden house 
near the mouth of Dock Creek, which was .ifteiwartls 
known as the Blue Anchor Tavern. 

The site of the city IkuI been selectetl b}- commis- 
sioners sent nut in advance, the locality being chosen in 
view of the ad\antages to na\'igation presented by the 
two ri\ers. It is probable that the localit)' of Chester 
was first considered, but this was unsatisfactory for 
several reasons, and the present site was finally chosen. 
The city had been planned, as abo\e said, in advance, its 
rectangular streets being suggested to the f)uni.ler, as 
some writers say, by those of the ancient city of I5ab_\'lon. 
Some of the streets were named from trees, probal:>l_\- 
from those found growing on the site. The original plan 
extended two miles east and west, from the Delaware to 
the Schu\-lkill, and about one mile north and south, from 
Sassafras (now \'ine) to Cedar (now South) Streets. The 
rectangularity, some of the forest titles, anil the name ot 
the city are wdiat remain of the original plan to-da\-. 

Penn is said to have bought the land for his cit)- from 
its Swetlish occupants b_\- gi\ing them other lands else- 
where, and also from its Indian owners, with whom he 
is credited with ha\-ing made a formal treat)' at the local- 
it}- long markeil b\- the Treat_\--p]lm. Whether any such 
treaty took place is questioned, but there is no doubt 
that he dealt with the Intlians as the true owners of the 
land, and entered into relations of friendshii) with them 
which long continued unbroken. 

Having brief!}- described the founiling of the city, some- 
thing further ma}- be said concerning William Pcnn's re- 




lations to his new pro\ince, and the piu'pose which he 
had in mind in forming this settlement beyond the 
<.)cean. The latter was [irincipall}' the desire to establish 
a place of refuge in which the Quakers, who were being 
severel}' persecuted in pjigland, might enjo}- their re- 
ligious opinions in peace, and free from the contumely 
and imprisonment to which Penn himself had been more 
than once subjectetl. A Ouaker settlement had alread}- 
been made in New Jerse\', of which Penn l)ecame one 
of the in'ojjrietors, and drew up for it a colonial consti- 
tution, in which he saitl, "There we lay ;i foundation for 
after ages to understand their libert}- as men and Chris- 
tians, that the}- m.i\- not be brought in bondage but 
by their own consent ; for we put the [jower in the 
people." 

In i6Si the proxince of Penn.sylvania was granted to 
him by the king, in pa}-ment of a debt which the im- 
pecunious monarch owed his father. Pcnn's purpo.sc in 
accepting it w;is to carr}- out on a more extended scale 
his plans for the amelioration of the condition of the 
Quakers, and to furnish them a home where the}- might 
enjoy the fullest libert}- of conscience and opinion. The 
charter by which he was made proprietar}- of Penns}-I- 
vania gave him the fullest powers in this and other 
directions. He was made supreme goxcrnor of the 

5 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



jirovincc, with tlic power of makintj laws with the ad- 
vice, assent, and approbation of the freemen, of ap- 
pointing officers, and of granting pardons. There were 
certain restrictive clauses, indeed ; but his powers were 
extensive, and his fellow-believers of the Society of 
Friends eagerly availed themseh'es of the op[)ortunity 
thus offered them, 

The good ship " Welcome," which bore Penn to 
America, carrietl one hundred stanch Quakers to the 
New World, the pioneers in the great movement thus 
inaugurated. Of this small number, one-third lost their 
lives by small-pox on the voyage. Landing at the 
Swedish settlement of Upland, to which Penn gave the 
name of Chester, after the city of Chester in England, 
a meeting of the ncwK'-established Assembly was held, 
and on December 7, 1682, the " Great Law of Pennsyl- 
\'ania" was passed. This embraced the idea that the 
new province was to be made a Christian state on a 
Quaker model. Christianity was the only c<)nditl(_in 
made requisite for citizenship or office-holding. All 
offices were made elective, — a purely democratic prin- 
ciple. The peiialt)' of death was abolished for all of- 
fences excejjt murder, — a pro\ision which sliowed Penn 
to be greatly in advance of his times. Lawsuits were to 
be superseded b}- arbitration. P>erything that could be 
done by act of Assembly was done to make the new- 
colony a model of its kind and an example for all man- 
kind. 

The city having been surveyed and laid out, its streets 
and squares established, and much of its land bestowed on 
settlers, Penn returned to England in 16S4, having seen 
the infant city beginning a rapid growth. In fact, within 
two years of his arrival, immigration had been so great 
that the new city contained three hundretl houses and a 
l)opulation reckone(.I at twent)--fi\-e luunhed. He Iiad 
given it the name of Philadelphia, perhaps from the an- 
cient city of that name in Asia Minor, being attracted, 
tloubtless, alike by the euphony of the word and the 
significance of its meaning, " brotherly love." I 



Penn revisited his city in 1699, and remained there for 
two years. He found the city active and prosperous, and 
already promising a splendid future. He made a treaty 
of commerce with the Indians, in which the)- engaged to 
trade only with the inhabitants of the province, settled, 
as well as he could, certain \-cxatious questions which 
had arisen, and returned to England in 1701. He was 
never again to see the cit\- which owes to him its birth. 

In truth, William Penn, the owner of a grand domin- 
ion in America, became the prey of poverty, and was 
thrown into prison for debt. He remained nine months 
in the Fleet Prison, partly through indignant refusal to 
pay what he considered an unjust claim, though the fact 
that the money for his release was raised b)- his friends 
indicates that actual iiovert)- had to do with it. He 
afterwards entered into negotiations with the crown for 
the surrender of his province on the payment of a small 
sum, but became incompetent to sign the papers in conse- 
quence of an apoplectic attack which injured his mental 
powers. This was in 1712. He gradually foiled from 
that time till 17 18, when he died, leaving his children 
heirs (.if his ])r(>\ince be\-ond the ocean. 

All did not go well in the dealings between the new 
proiM-ietors antl the people of Pennsylvania. Many 
disputes and much bad feeling arose, and the claims of 
the Penn family were eventually purchased by the com- 
monwealth for a small sum of money. The principal 
memorial of William Penn in Philadelphia is the Letitia 
House, built for his occupancy during his first visit 
here, and now preserved in P'airmount Park. " Soli- 
tude," located in the Zoological Garden, was built by 
his grandson, John Penn, after the Re\dlution. 

In 1S82 the bi-centennial anniversary of the landing 
of Penn was celebrated with appropriate ceremonies, a 
splendid cit\- of nearly a million inhabitants ha\ing 
grown up, in the two centuries which had elapsed, on 
the site which he had found covered with primeval forest 
and inhabited onlv b\' a (^:\\ Swedes and .some rovintr 
Indians. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



JAMHS LOGAN. 

James Logan was, like his friend William Ptnn, a 
Quaker of Cavalier ancestry. He was descentlcd from 
Baron Logan, of Rcstalrig, Scotland, who had taken 
part in the Gawrie consi^iracy, in the reign of James VI,, 
and hist his property in consequence. }ames was the 
son of Rev. Patrick Logan, who had removed to Eng- 
land and joined the new sect of Friends. James was 
born in Lurgnn, Irehuul, October 20, \()J4. lie was 
well educated, being master of the French, German, 
Greek, Latin, and other languages. He had embarked 
in a mercantile career, and was achiexing success, when 
William Penn, on his second jouine\- tn Philadeli)hia, 
in\-ited the }-oung merchant to accompan\- him as his 
secretar)'. He accepted the invitation, and sailed for the 
New World in 1699. An amusing anecdote is told of 
the voyage. Pirates attacked the shij), and Penn, a 
Quaker b)' conx^ersion, retired below, while Logan, a 
Quaker b_\- bii'th, joined in the defence. The pirates 
were dri\'en off, and Penn sought the deck again, where 
he scolded Logan for engaging in battle. " You were 
m\- master," replied L(igan ; " if )-ou did not wish me to 
fight, why di(_i _\-ou not order me below deck ?" He may 
be looked on as the original " fighting Quaker." 

On reaching Philadelj^hia, Penn appointed Logan sec- 
retar}' of the Council, and when he left for pjigland, two 
years afterwards, he left Logan to some extent his 
agent in the settlement and collection of rents, debts, 
fines, etc. From this time f irward he acted as Penn's 
bu.sines.s agent in America, and on the death of the pro- 
prietor was appointed by will to perform the same duties 
for his successors. Logan became a member of the 
Council in 1704. Disputes hatl arisen, and many of the 
colonists were bitter against the government of tlie pro- 
prietar\-. Logan stood stoutly for the interests of Penn, 
but was haught}' and aristocratic in bearing, and roLised 
such resentment that the Assembl)- sought to impeach 
him. The governor deciding that it was be}'ond his 
authorit}- to try a case of impeachment, an effort was 
made to arrest Logan, some of the members being ex- 
asperated by his free expressions of opinion. The sheriff 
decided, howe\-er, in his turn, that this was beyond his 
authority, and Logan left on a projected trip to England. 

He returned after a year's absence, and, trouble arising 
with the governor, used his influence to ha\e him de- 
posetl and Sir William Keith appointed in his stead. 
Keith was an able, but an arbitrar)', man, who soon fell 
out with his supporter, and the Council passed bills in 
defiance of the majoi'it)', and removed Logan from his 
office of secretary. After Penn's death in 17 18, Logan 
acted as trustee for all his possessions in America, and 
became ma}'or of the city in 1723. A conflict soon after 
arose between him and Keith, Hannah Penn haxing 
ordered the governor to restore Logan to the secretary- 




siiip and to be controlled by him in his official duties. 
The conflict ended in the triumph of Logan and the 
deposition of Keith. As to the character of Governor 
Keith, we liave some interesting e\iilence in the auto- 
biograph)- t)f Benjamin Franklin. 

P"rom this time forward Logan's career was a success- 
ful one. He was reappointed secretar\-, was made one 
of the justices, and in 1731 became Chief-Justice of the 
Supreme Court. In 1736 he was cliosen, on the death 
of the governor, Prcsitlent of the Council, and acted as 
governor for two \ears, pending the arrival of a new 
governor. With the coming t)f George Thomas, the 
new governor, Logan retired from political life, and spent 
the remainder of his da}-s on his estate, " Stcnton," near 
Germantown. He died in 1751. 

Amid his political, mercantile, and other interests, 
Logan found nuich time to devote to science and litera- 
ture. He wrote papers on Lightning for the "Philo- 
sophical Transactions," and Latin treatises on botany, 
electricity, navigation, and ojitics. For the benefit of the 
people of Philatlelphia, he made a free gift to the city of 
his valuable librar}', containing a choice selection of 
books \alued at one thousand pounds. This library 
was endowed with the Springettsbury manor property, 
and he also designed to add a library building to the 
gift. The building w-as erected, but the donor died before 
the deed of gift could be executed. This was the begin- 
ning of the Loganian Library. It now forms a valuable 
part of the Philadelphia Library, and contains in ail 
about three thou.sand volumes. 

Logan's other literaiy labors include the translation 
of the " Ue Scnectute" of Cicero and the " Disticha" of 
Cato. He was one of the tru.stees in the deed b\- which 
the meeting-house of Whitfield became an academy, the 
progenitor of the University of Pennsylvania. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 

j\ii(iUT nine o'clock of a Sunila}' nioininL;', in the 
month of October, 1723, tliere huided in the then small 
city of Philadelphia a bo}' of seventeen, a runaway ap- 
prentice from Boston , who had just crossed New Jersey 
on foot, bringing with him in the way of wealth a silver 
dollar and a shilling in coppers. He walketl up the 
street eating a penn\' roll, with t\V(j e)thers under his 
arm, heedless of the figure he cut; and for a place of 
rest dropped into the Quaker meeting-house, where he 
fell fast asleep in the midst of the re\'erential silence of , 
tlie congregation. 

Such was the humble advent of the greatest citizen 
that I'hiladeljjhia was ever to know, and the greatest 
man in the colonial history of the United States. The 
story of the life of Benjamin Franklin is too extended , 
and is too well known to be given, even in condensed ^ 
form, here. It is only with his life-record as the most 
important among the " Makers of Philadelphia" that we 
are now concerned. This is a wide and varied record, 
and it may be said in advance that se\-eral of the most 
prominent institutions in the Philadelphia of to-daj' were 
born in the fertile brain of him whose humble ad\ent we 
have just described. 

Young Franklin was full of plans for the betterment 
of his fellow-citizens and the mental improxement of 
himself and those around him. About 1727 he organ- 
izetl the celebrated club named The Junto, and known 
b)' the people as The Leather-Apron Club, from the 
number of mechanics among its members. Its object 
was the intellectual improvement of its associates, and it 
continued in existence for many years, much to the en- 
joyment and benefit of those connected with it, was 
revived about 1758, and finally, in 1769, de\eloped into 
the American Philosophical Society, the oldest scientific 



institution in iVmerica, and still the most honored and 
influential. The full process of origin of this society was 
the following: In 1743, Franklin advocated "A Proposal 
for Promoting Useful Knowledge among the British 
Plantations in America." In the following year he organ- 
ized an association called the American Philosophical 
Societ}', with Thomas Mopkinson as president, him- 
self as secretary, and- John Bartram, Thomas Godfrey, 
and other well-known persons among its members. 
This society ceased to hold meetings after a few years. 
In 1767 it was revived, and in 1769 combined with 
tile Junto into an association under the title (jf "The 
American Philosophical Societ}' held at Philadelphia for 
Promoting Useful Knowledge." Dr. I-'ranklin became 
its first president, and was annually re-elected until his 
death. 

Meanwhile lie was active in other enterprises for the 
good of his adopted city. He had been taught the trade 
of [jrinting, and after a few }'cars spent in London he 
starteil the first active and business-like printer's establish- 
ment in Philadelphia, an enterprise which was conducted 
with such diligence, shrewdness, and abilit\- that it soon 
absorbed most of the valuable business of the colony. 
To it he quickly added a newspaper, almost the fii'st of 
an\- journalistic value in the New World. There had 
been two feeble attempts to establish newspapers in 
Philadelphia before, but they had proved wretched fail- 
ures. In 1729, Franklin bought out one of these, named 
it the Pennsylvania Gazette, and conducted it with a skill 
and judgment that quickly made it popular and profit- 
able. It continued in existence for nearh- si.xty j-ears 
as one of the leading papers of the colonies, much of its 
able treatment of public affairs being due to the contri- 
butions from Franklin's own pen. He had, while still 
a }-oung lad in Boston, sent contributions of striking 
character to his brother's paper, the Conrant, and now 
displaj'ed in his writings a judgment, good sense, political 
acumen, and homel}' humor which gave force and point 
to all lie said. In 1732 he started another literary enter- 
prise which was destined to become famous as a reservoir 
of homely and pithy sayings, breathing the ripest spirit 
of practical ever_\--da\- wisdom. This was the well-known 
" Poor Richard's Almanac," which was filled with short, 
sensible apothegms, and went far towards giving Philadel- 
phia the leading place in colonial literature. It gained a 
wide celebrity, was read with appreciation in P^urope and 
translated three times into I'rench, and gave to Franklin 
a wide fame as a practical philosopher. 

The year 1731, when the young editor was twent}--five 
years of age, is the date of another of his noble enter- 
prises for the good of Philadelphia. In that )-ear he 
founded what has since grown into the flourishing Phila- 
delphia Library, one of the leading institutions of the 
modern city. It began in a very humble way. The 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



Junto possessed a small library, consistinij of the books 
belonging to members. But books were then scarce antl 
high-priceil, and as some <>f the Junto ci)llection had 
been injured, the owners took them all home. l'"ranklin 
at once concei\'etl the idea of a subscription librar\-, ob- 
t. lined subscii[)tiiins amounting to lort)'-tue [)ouiids, ,ind 
hat! this sum jutliciously spent in London for books. 
The library i)ro\-etl very successful, grew with consider- 
able rapiilit}', and was enudateil by liljiaries of the same 
kind elsewhere in the countr)'. Subscribers wei'e per- 
mitted to take books home to reatl, a useful custom 
which, so fir as any record can be foLuul, was first con- 
ceived b\' h'ranklin. His enterprise seems also to have 
been the first subscription librar\-. The idea, starting in 
Philadelphia, has grown since then. The world of to- 
&.iy is full of such libraries. 

During these }'ears Franklin did other useful things 
for the benefit of the city. The old system of the city 
watch, about as antiipiated and useful as that of Dog- 
berr\-'s watch in " Much Ado about Nothing," was 
replaced through liis effort^ with a much more efficient 
method. I lis ne.xt mo\ement was to fiund a nuuiicipal 
system for the suppression of fires, lioston had pos- 
sessed such a s\-stem in his bo\-hood, ami by the aid of 
the Junto he organized the Union Fire Com|)any, the first 
in I'hil.idelphia. He was himself .i niemlier of it for fift\- 
}'ears. Its original means of putting OLit fires consisted 
of leather buckets, to which were adtled baskets and 
bags fir the sa\ ing of goods. In time these i)riniiti\e 
devices grew into engines, hooks and ladders, etc. In 
1746, Franklin t(Kok steps towards the organization of a 
system of public defence, roused the peo[)le b}- a skilfully 
written pamphlet, and soon had them enrolled into a 
militar_\- organization which was joineil b)' nearly e\er_v 
man in the province not a member of the .Societ}' of 
Friends. 

Up to this time, and nearly as late as 1760, Philadelphia 
continued uiipa\ed. Its soil being of clay, the streets 
were nearl\- impass.ible in the rain}- season, h^ranklin's 
first mo\'e towards better streets was to engage a man to 
sweep around the market-place. He then wrote a pam- 
phlet suggesting that people would find it pleasant and 
profitable to have the streets swept before their own 
doors. This experience of moderatel}- clean streets ga\'e 



rise to a general desire of the people to have their avenues 
paved, but it took ten years before the desirable improve- 
ment could be carried out. 

Such were some of the steps taken by Dr. I'ranklin in 
anticipation of the Philadeljihia of to-day. I lis efforts 
in the cause of education and foi- the relief of suffering 
were no less useful. As early as 1 743 he [proposed the 
establishment of a college or high school in Pliiladel[)hia, 
and in 1 741; made new efforts in this direction, issuing a 
pamphlet with a detailed scheme of higher instruction. 
His laliors bore fruit, — an academy was established; and 
this, thirt)- years later, in 1779, developed into the Uni- 
versit\- of Pennsylvania, now one of the leading institu- 
tions of learning in the country. Immediately after the 
establishment of the academ\- a new enler[>rise was sug- 
gested to him by his friem.l Dr. Thomas Hond, that of 
the founding of a hospital. Into this he entered with 
his usual heartiness, obtained money from the people 
and from the Assembh', and woiked with such energy 
that in a ^ijw years a wing of the Pennsylvania Hospital 
was built and in operation on its ])resent site. No insti- 
tution in America has been more useful to mankind than 
this ncible charity, and to-da\- it ranks among the most 
valuable estalilishnients c)f its kind in Christendom. 

The aI)o\e are the leading contributions of Ik-njamin 
I'r.uiklin to the development of the cit}' of Philadelphia. 
I McUiy of a minor character might be atkled, but those 
given nnist suffice. Philadel])hia is als(^ notable as the 
site of his celebrated scientific disco\ery, in which he 
brought down lightning from the clouds, and prin'ed 
this remarkable atmosijheric agent to be identical in 
nature with the electricit\- of the earth. The experiment 
was a strikingl)' brilliant and successful one for that early 
age of science, and made the name of Franklin known 
throughout the whole ci\ilized world. 

Such w ere the deeds of Benjamin Franklin as a citizen 
and scientist. His deeds as a jiatriot and statesman 
belong to the country rather than to the city, and arc 
too well known to need repetition here. It will suffice 
to sa\-, in conclusion, that he died in Phikulelphia, April 
17, 1790, and that his tomb, visible to all who pass tjic 
cemett-r)- at the south-east corner of Fifth and Arch 
Streets, is one of the most honoreil and re\eretl monu- 
ments the city possesses. 



~) 



lO 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JOHN DICKINSON. 

Pennsylvania has been " hitherto and perhaps im- 
meniorially," said Horace Binney, one of her most hon- 
ored sons, ■■ indifterent or insensible to the abilities of her 
sons, who have gained their first public consideration 
elsewhere. . . . She is more indifferent to her own sons 
than she is to strangers." Massachusetts has ever done 
justice to her Adamses, Xew York to her Livingstons, 
and Virginia to her Lees, but how little has been said 
by Pennsylvania of her illustrious statesman, John Dick- 
inson, "first champion of American liberties;'" of her 
heroic soldier, " Mad" Anthonj" Wayne ; of John Cad- 
walader, the chivalrous friend and trusted militar}- adviser 
of Washington, or of a score of other of her Revolu- 
tionarj- worthies. It was Dickinson who not onl\- united 
the colonial oppcsition and invited the attention and ' 
respect of the European powers for the justice of our 1 
cause, as has already been pointed to on pages io6, 107. 
but who also drafted in the Congress most of the cele- 
brated State papers that drew so high an encomium from 
Lord Chatham. 

Dickinson, with Thomas Willing, presided over the 
Great Public Meeting at the State House in June, 1774, ' 
which declared the Boston Port Bill unconstitutional, and 
appointed a Committee of Correspondence, with Dickin- ] 
son as Chairman; and at the ensuing Provincial Congress 
he drew up the " Three masterh- State papers" indicating 
the " Course which should be pursued at this crisis." He ' 
presided as a leader in most of the Revolutionar\- bodies. 

It is particularly to the credit of Dickinson that he 
was the most conspicuous and, with one or two excep- 
tions, the only member of the Congress of 1776 to set 
the example to his countrymen with his sword as well 
as by his pen and his counsel. L'pon news of the con- 
flict at Lexington (April, 1775). he took a principal part 



at the public meeting where it was resolved to defend 
" Our lives, liberties, and properties by a resort to arms," 
and he and his first cousin, John Cadwalader, became the 
colonels of two of the three original battalions then 
formed. On the first alarm at the expected arrival of 
the British at New York, February-, 1776, Dickinson pre- 
pared to lead the volunteer detachments to its relief; so, 
too, on July 4. the day of the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence, he was engaged at the State House in arranging 
for the march of the Philadelphia battalions to the assist- 
ance of Washington's army, serving throughout that six 
weeks' campaign. Again, in the emergency of 1777, he 
volunteered during the operations of the Battle of Bran- 
dywine, and immediately afterwards was made a briga- 
dier of the Delaware militia. He opposed the Declara- 
tion of Independence on the ground that the time was 
inopportune, and would frustrate our negotiations with 
France, whose aid he deemed essential, or, in Mr. Dick- 
inson's own words, " The right and authorit}' of Congre.ss 
"to make it, the justice of making it, I acknowledged; 
" the policy of then making it, I disputed. . . . Foreign 
■' aid could not be obtained by the Declaration, but by 
" our actions in the field, which were the onl\- evidences 
" of our union and vigor that would be respected. This 
" was confirmed by the conduct of France." Although 
Mr. Dickinson's judgment proved at fault on this ques- 
tion, he must be higliK" respected for the courage of his 
convictions and consistency of his conduct. Hildreth, the 
historian, sajs it was the "noble.st proof of moral courage 
ever shown by a public man in the histor\- of the countr}-." 
Among the most responsible of the other positions 
held by Dickinson during the Revolution, he was elected 
President of Delaware, 17S0-81, after representing that 
.State in Congress in 1779. In 1782 he was elected 
President of Pennsylvania and re-elected in 1783-4-5. 
He was President of the Annapolis Convention of 1786 
which recommended the call of the Convention of 1787, 
in which he took a principal part in framing the Federal 
Government. Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, 
where the famih" connections of Dr. Cadwalader, his 
uncle, exerted the strongest influence in advocating the 
Constitution, were the first to ratify it. The " Letters of 
Fabius," b\" Dickinson, commending it to public approval, 
like his " Farmer's Letters" to the colonies, "carried con- 
viction" to the States. Clymer, who was with Dickinson 
in the Constitutional Convention, Colonel Lambert Cad- 
walader, and General Philemon Dickinson were elected 
to the first Federal Congress, the former two to the 
House and the latter to the Senate. Ill-health obliged 
John Dickinson to decline being a candidate for the 
Senate. General Meredith, a son-in-law of Dr. Cadwal- 
ader, was appointed by Washington United States Treas- 
urer, and Colonel Clement Biddle, a connection. United 
States Marshal. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



II 



JUOGH THOMAS McKEAN. 

The parents of Thomas McKcan were of Irisli birth, 
but he was a iiati\'e of Pennsylvania, beini; born in Lon- 
donilerr)-, Chester Count)-, March 19, 1734. He was 
born to a prominent [loiilical ami lej:;al career. He 
studied law at New Castle, Delaw.ue, in the office of 
David Finny, a relative of his mother, and w.is admitted 
to the bar before lie was of a^jc, ha\-inL,r alieatl)- served 
as prothoiiotary. When but twenty-three he was ad- 
mitted to practice in the Supreme Ciuu't of Pennsylvania 
and appointed clerk of the Assembl)'. P"i\e sears after- 
wards, wlien twent)'-eii,dit years of a_Lje, he was a])i)ointed, 
with Cesar Rodne)-, to codify the laws of Delaware, and 
in the same \-ear was elected to the Provincial Assembly 
from New Castle. Pie continued a member of this body 
for scN'cnteen consecutive yeai's. Pi 1773 he renio\'ed to 
Philadelphia, but continuetl to ser\e in the Assembly as 
the representatix'C of his old district for six )'ears, wlien 
he positi\ely declined re-election. 

In 1765 he represented Delaware in the Colonial Con- 
gress (the so-called " Stamp-Act Con;j;ress"), and in this 
position proposetl an important princi[)le in ^American 
federalism. He contended that Delaware, though fir 
smaller in territor\' and population than its neii;Iibors, 
should have an equal \-ote with the other colonies, His 
opinion pre\ailed, ani.1 the precedent was established. 
This question, thus passed upon, came up aijain as an 
important and excitint;- one in the Rirmation of the 
L^uited States Constitution. As we are aware, it was 
decided by making all the States cijual in re])resentation 
in the United States Senate, while gi\ing liiflerence of 
population weight in the House of Representatives. 

Young as he was, Mr. McKean became a prominent 
figure in the Congix-ss, and was appointed one of the 
committee to draw up the memorial of the copjnies to 
the Hiitish Parliament. Neai' the close of the Congress, 
he rebuked the President severel)' for refusing to sign 
the proceedings, and was so belligerent and sarcastic in 
liis language that the timid President hastened away to 
New York bef)re dawn of the next tlay, to avoid thfs 
truculent member from P)elaware. When the time came 
for the Stamp Act to be enforced. Mr. McKe.ui, then 
justice of the peace for New Castle, ordered the officers 
of the court to continue their duties with unstam[)ed 
p.iper, tluis openh' deU'ing Great Britain. 

Tlie next great e\ent in his career was the notable 
one of signing the Declaration of Independence as Del- 
aware's representative to the Continental Congress. Im- 
niediatel)- afterwartls he letl a regiment to Peith .\nibo\-, 
to the support of Washington. Un his return to Phila- 
delphia he learned that Delaware had chosen him as a I 
member of a convention to form a constitution. He 
hastened at once to Do\er, and on the night of his ar- 
rival wrote out the draft of a constitution, which was 




offered to the con\-ention ami unanimously adopted by it 
on the \-er\- next da\-. In 1777 he was appointed Chief- 
Justice of Penns)-lvania. Delaware meanwhile, not will- 
ing to lose its re[)resent.itive, elected him to the presi- 
denc\- of the State, despite the fact th.it he resided in 
PennsyK-aiiia. During the same time he continued a 
member of Congress and of the Assembly, thus having 
a multiplicity of duties, which onl_\' his prodigious powers 
for work enabled him to perform. 

In No\-cmber, 1777, aftei- iiaxing ser\-ed for some 
months as President of Congress, he took his seat upon 
the Supreme Bench of the State, a position which he held 
till I70<). when he was elected Ciovernor of Pennsyl\-ania. 
His ser\ice as go\-ernor continued until 1808. An at- 
tempt was made to impeach him iluring liis last term, so 
hot had political animosit)' become, but the im])eachnient 
ne\er came to trial. He retired from office at tiie end of 
this term, glad, as he exj)ressed himself, to be exem])ted 
from official duties and to enjoy a tranquillit)- he had 
never before experienced. He was not destineil to a long 
period of relief from the labors and responsibilities of 
official life. He died June 2.4, 1817. 

Judge McKean w.is the first to preside over tlie Su- 
preme Court after the Declaration of Independence. The 
court under him was conducted with a dignity not emu- 
lated afterwards, except in the United States Supreme 
Court. He was ini[)erious in temper and apt to be arbi- 
trar}- in his control of the court, but aKvaj's of unim- 
l^eachable integrit}-. On one occasion, when the sheriff 
and his posse ]Mi)\ed incapable of suppressing a riot, 
Judge McKean bade the timid officer to summon him. 
On being summoned, he immediateU- left the beiicii, pro- 
ceeded to the scene of disorder, seized two of the ring- 
leaders and placed tliem in custoiK-, and \ery (juickly 
brought the riot to an end. 



12 



JfAR'ERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 





CHARLES WILSON PEALE. 

The name of Peale demands our attention as that of 
a famil)- of ver.-?atile genius, wliose powers were displayed 
in more than one field, and which continued tlirough two 
generations to \neld artists of fine abilit\\ Charles \\"iison 
Peale, tlie most important member of this family, was 
bom in Charlestown. Marv'land, in 1741. He began his 
active life as a saddler's apprentice, but quickly turned 
from saddles to carriages, from carriages to clocks, and 
from clocks to pictures. Ha\ing seen by chance a col- 
lection of paintings, his fancy was fired witli the idea 
that tliis was his true vocation, and, bu\-ing can\"as. brush, 
paints, and a looking-glass, he set himself at work to 
paint his own portrait, which was accomplished with a 
fair degree of success. 

This success made Peale a painter, and one who w^s 
destined to do more towards awakenijig a taste for art in 
Philadelphia tlian any other painter oi the past. Benjamin 
West not excepted. Seeking Philadelphia, he bought 
materials for his purpose and went diligently to work. 
In 1769 he made a journey to Boston, and tliere saw 
Copley, then growing famous as a portrait-painter, from 
whom he received encouragement and permission to cop\- 
one of his works. Feeling that a period of study abroad 
was indispensable, he now made his way to England, with 
some money adx^anced him by friends, which he agreed 
to repay in portraits. He left his young wife behind, 
haxing married before tlie age of twent\--one. 

Peale remained in Lxmdon from 1770 to 1774, study- 
ing witli Benjamin West, who was \-er\- kind to him. In 
addition to portraiture he studied wax modelling, plaster 
casting, mezzotint engraxing. and miniature painting. He 
returned to tliis countrA- in 1774, and sought Philadelphia 



in 1776, as the most promising field for his labors. But 
at tliat revolutionan,- period no place in America was 
propitious to the arts, and the \oung painter joined tlie 
army, became a captain of volunteers, and fought \-al- 
iantly under Washington at tlie battles of Trenton and 

I Gemiaiitowni. Wliile in the army he painted tlie por- 
traits of nian\- of his brother officers, making a coUec- 

] tion which formed tlie nucleus of tlie famous gallery 

I of national portraits afterAvards exhibited by him. He 
painted also a number of portraits of Washington at 
\"arious periods of the hero's life, no less than seven or 
dght in all. One of these, painted for tlie State of Penn- 

? sylvania in 1779, was destroyed by some jjersons, who 
broke into the chamber in tlie State- House in which it 
was hung, in 1781. His most famous portrait of Wash- 
ington was painted in 1779, by request of a committee 
of Congress tlien sitting in Philadelphia. This was after- 
wards engraved by tlie painter in mezzotint, probably 
tlie first example of tliis branch of tlie art in America. 

Peale painted portraits of many otlier men of note, his 
works including a fine portrait of Franklin, an excellent 
likeness of Jefferson, a full-lengtli portrait of Gerard, the 
first French Minister to tlie United States, and portraits 
of James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, John Ouincy Adams, 
Henr\- Clay, and otlier eminent men. In his eight\--first 
year he painted " Christ Healing the Sick at tlie Pool of 
Betliesda," and in his eight\--second year a fine portrait 
oi himself, witli a museum scene in the background, now 
in the Philadelphia Academy of the Fine Arts. He was 
tlie first to suggest the formation of tliis academy, and 
was one of the most active among tliose who finally 
established it. 

Peale's versatility- le. otlier directions. In 1784 

he opened a museum in h:s rc>idence. containing a large 
gallerj- of portraits of men of the Revolution and many 
natural curiosities which he had for years collected. This 
exhibition was a success, and the museum rapidly in- 
creased, many examples of prepared animals being added 
to it In 1794 the museum was removed to die rooms 
of tlie Philosophical Societ\-. and Peale began to form a 
zoological garden in its rear, on Inde{>endence Square. 
The greatest attraction of the museum was the skeleton 
of a mammoth, the first discovered in tliis country-. In 
1S02 tlie museum was removed to tlie State-House, of 
which it occupied all but tlie west room on tlie lower 
floor. Its latest locality was at the comer of Ninth and 
Sansoni Streets, where it continued in existence till 1S44. 
Mr. Peale died in 1S27. eight\--five years old. He left 
several sons and daughters who became painters, the 
best known among tliem being Rembrandt Peale. an able 
portrait and historical painter, and for years the principal 
proprietor of the Peale Museum. 



MAKERS OF PIIIl.ADRI.PHIA. 



•3 



BENJAMIN RUSH, M.l). 

Amoni; the iiinsl ilisliiir;uishc(l of ihc l'hil;uk-l])hia 
plu'sicians of the past ccntuiy must lie classeil the sub- 
ject of the present skeleli, Dr. Benjamin Rush, lie was 
born near Philatlelpliia in 1745, L;ra(luated at Prineeton 
College in his si.xteenth _\ear, studied medieini- in I'iiila- 
delphia, then tiie medical centre of the countrw for six 
years afterwards, ani.1 thiii went al)road to compk-te liis 
studies at lulinl)urL;h. and latei- at London and P.iris. 
He had tletermined to reach tin- iii^iiest |)ossihk' ])lane 
in his profession, and i)eL;.m .tt the IjeijinninL; I))' readini;- 
and translatini; tiie woiks of 1 Iip[)ocrates. 1 lis studies in 
Paris were underl.dxen .it the su^i^estion of 1 )i'. h'rankHn, 
who ath'anced him the mone}' for the [un'pose. It was 
his strong desire to obtain a professorship in tlu: mc'dical 
collei^e newl\' founded in i'hil.uklphia, and liis wislies 
were realized. Reports had reaeheil Phikulelphia from 
abroail of his unusual ai)ility and procuress, and on his 
return, in IJ*"'';, Ik- hi'ouLjht with him a chemical ap|)a- 
ratus presented to the college by 'I'hom.is Pemi. It was 
the chair of Chemistry th.it he [i.uticularly desii'cd and 
had specialK' fitted himself for, and he was elected to this 
professorship in July, I'Tuj. He was then but twenty- 
four years of ,it;e. 

Dr. Rush earl_\- entei'etl upon authoiship. W'hik' in 
London he was a member of .1 debatiilj^ club, before 
which he elo(iuentl\' defendetl the rights of tlie American 
colonies, when this subject came up for discussion. He 
wrote \-arious treatises connected with his profession, of 
which the most famous was delivered as an oi-,itioii before 
the American Philosophical .Societx". This w.is on the 
histor)' of medicine among the American Indi.ins, and 
embraced a com[)arison of their diseases and remedies 
with those of civilized nations. In it the evils of the in- 
temperate use of ardent spirits wert- particularly consid- 
ered. This was ;i new subject. People at that da\' seem 
to have accepted drunkenness as one of the tlispensations 
of Providence. The paper brought the writer great re- 
nown, and helped to make him ])rominent in the ])olitical 
agitations which soon followed. In 177'' he w.is elected 
to Congress, this body being then engagtil in considering 
the greatest act of ,\merican historv, — the Decdaration 
of Independence. Rush, ,111 ardent [)atriot, signed that 
document, as did his f,ither-in-law , Richard .Stockton, of 
Princeton, whose daughter Julia he hail just married. 
As Dr. Gross writes, "Our patriot went into Congress 
knowing what he hatl to do. Ilediil not sign the tre- 
mendous parchment because he w.is a member ; he 
became a niembei- that he nn'ght sign it." 

In 1777, Dr. Rush was apjiointed physician-general of 
the militar}- hospitals for the middle department. The 
close of the war found him poor, and he eiiteretl with 
new earnestness upon his professional duties, though his 
continued interest in the concerns of his country- is shown 





in the fict thai lu- became a memlici- of the State Con- 
\ention of 17S7, and \oted in it for the .'idoption of the 
Constitution of the United .States. Dickinson College, 
iiaiuid in honor of John I )ickinson, the political leader, is 
said to h.ne bi-en foimded m.iinK- through his influence. 
The Philadelphia Dispensary was organized b\- him in 
1785, and in 17S7 he was the leading spiiit in tin- found- 
ing of the College of Pii\-sicians. Hoth of these remain 
as monuments of his far-sighted public spirit. 

In 1789 he became Professor of the Theor\- ;md Prac- 
tice of Medicine in the Medical College, and in 179O, 
w-hcn the college was united with the Universitj-, he took 
the chair of Institutes of Medicine and Clinical Practice. 
I'o these he .added in I79''> the chair of Practice of Piij-sic. 
.\s a lecturer he w;is higlil_\- popular, uniting great fluency 
of c-.\|)ression with jjrofound knowledge of all subjects 
related to his profession. He was particulai'ly successful 
in his treatment of yellow fe\ er tluring the great out- 
break of 1793. He is said to iiave for some time at- 
tended as man\- as one hundred antl twent\- patients a 
day, his labors being such that he sometimes fainted in 
the streets from exhaustion. Me adopted a heroic treat- 
ment of inuging antl bleeding, which proved a marked 
success. I le afterwards wrote a history of the plague, 
of which it is saitl, " It is the best history that w-as ever 
written of any ejiidemic." I""or many \-ears he was one 
of the ph\-sicians of the Pennsylvania Hospital, was Trea.s- 
urer of the Mint during his last fourteen )-ears, was Pres- 
ident of the Societ)- for the Abolition of Skuery, and 
\'ice- President of the Bible Society of Philadel])hia. He 
(.lied in 181 3, leaving behind him a high reputation for 
learning, industry, benevolence, and ])iet)-. The appre- 
ciation of his services to humanity was shown in the 
bestowing of medals and other testimonials by monarchs 
abroad and associations at home. 



14 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




ROBERT MORRIS. 

Robert Morkis, the celebrated financier of the Revo- 
lution, was a native of Li\er])()ol, iMv^land, in which city 
he was born Januai_\- 20. 1734. I lis father brouL;ht hini 
to this coiintr)' when he was about thirteen )'ears of age, 
and shortK' afterwards placetl him in the counting-house 
of Charles Willing, a wealthy Philadelphia merchant of 
that period. Here his activity and diligence quickh- 
gained him the favor and confidence of his employer, 
and after the death of Mr. Willing, his son and successor 
took the \-oung employe into paitnership, a business 
connection that was continued until 1793. The firm of 
Willing & Morris grew in importance till at the ojjen- 
ing of the Rexolution it r.uiketl among the largest and 
most prosperous of the man}' thrix'ing commercial houses 
of Phikulelphia. 

Mr. Morris hati been warml\- attachetl to the mother 
country, but he strongly opposed the Stamp Act, and 
signed the non-importation agreement of 1765, though 
full)' recognizing that it would prove iiijiu'ious to his 
business interests. In 1775 he was sent as a delegate 
to the Continental Congress, and while serving in this 
capacity he voted against the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence, on its presentation, July i, 1776. and on the occa- 
sion of its final passage, Jul)' 4, he declined to vote. 
The feeling of loyalty to England which had dictated 
this action, however, did not pre\'ent him from signing 
his name to that great instrument when it was adopted. 

In 1777 he was re-elected to Congress, and again in 
the following )'ear. By this time all thought of loyalt)' 
to England had passed away, and he was one of the most 
active of American patriots, his services becoming highly 
valuable during the whole period of liostilities. He was 



the hardest-working member of the Committee of Ways 
and Means, and emplo)'ed his business credit to its full 
extent for the advantage of the gox'ernment. He may 
be said to have saved his countr)', f )r without his financial 
aid the campaigns of 1780 and 17.S1 would have been 
impossible, and the Revolution must have endetl in fiil- 
ure. In 1780 he supplied General Greene with munitions 
of war for his successful campaign, and in 1781 he raised 
Si, 400,000 to assist Washington in the movement that 
ended in the captiu'e of Yorktown and the close of hos- 
tilities. 

This was not the end of his sersice to his countr)'. 
In Februar)', 1 781, he had been elected .Sui^erintendent 
of Finance, and in December of that year, the govern- 
ment being in financial straits, with a debt of 52,500,000. 
ami no means of pa)'ing it, he organized the Bank of 
North America, the first banking institution in the 
country. This bank went into operation in January, 
17S2, with a capital of $400,000, and proved of great 
service to the country. In 1783, wear)' of the excite- 
ment and an.xiet)' of the position, he resigned his sujjer- 
intendency of finance, but was induced to retain it till 
November, 17S4, when he retired. The charter of the 
bank was annulled b)- the Legislature of I'enns)'lvania in 
the last-named year, but IMorris succeeded in having it 
restored in 1786. In the latter )'ear he was elected to 
the Legislature, and in 1787 was a member of the memo- 
rable convention that framed the Constitution of the 
Lhiited States. 

After the organization of the new government he was 
elected to membership in the First Congress on October 
I. 1788, and served as .1 member of that bod)' till 1795. 
( )n the organiz.ition of the executive branch of the 
gox'ernment, President Washington offeretl him the cab- 
inet position of Secretary of the Treasur)'. Morris, 
however, declined this high office, but served his countr)' 
well, he recommeniling Alexander Hamilton for the post. 

C)n withdrawing fronr office he went more acti\'el)' into 
business, joining with Gouverneur Morris in extensive 
ventures in the tlast India and China trade. In the 
end these speculative enterprises proved disastrous, and 
Morris, reduced to povert)-, was arrested for debt, and 
spent several )'ears in a debtor's cell, to the endless dis- 
credit of the country to whose relief he had so nobly 
come in its period of distress. He was confined in the 
Prune Street Prison, Philadeli)hia, his term of imprison- 
ment continuing from Februar)-, 1798, till the passage of 
the national bankrupt law in 1802. His wife, Mary 
Morris, had contrived to preserve a home, aiul on his 
release he found shelter under her roof, where he died 
Ma)' 8, 1806. No man deserved more of his country. 
No man obtained less. 



MAKERS OF PHlLADELPHfA. 



15 



RT. RHV. WILLIAM WHITE. 

]!i>iiiii' Wiirri:. the " Father of the American Church," 
as he has been callctl, was l5oi-ii in Fhiiadcl[)hia, March 
26, I74''^. lie rccei\-e(l liis educatiim in the College of 
Philadelphia, the predecessor of the Uni\-ersity, from 
which he yi'atluated at the earl\- at:;e of se\enteen. He 
had alread\- decided to enter the ministry of the Church 
of England, and for a number of j-ears studietl under the 
Re\-. L)rs. Peters and Duche, and, with several other 
\-oung men, practised theological exercises under the 
direction of Rew 1 )r. William Smith, pinxost of the 
college. There being no bishop in .\merica, it w'as 
necessary to go to Kngland to be ordained, anil the 
young candidate sailed for that countrx" in 1770. 

Here he met with sever.il difficulties. He was under 
the necessai)' age, ami he was a graduate of neither 
Cambridge nor ( )xfortl, and was therefore ineligible in 
British e\-es. But he passed so successful an exami- 
nation that the obstacles were set aside, the examining 
chaplain saying that "his examination wcudd ha\e lieeii 
an honor to eithei' of the universities." He w.is accord- 
ingly ori.lained, and remained in luigland stud\'ing and 
travelling till he had reached the requisite age of twenty- 
foiu' )-ears, when he was aih'anced to the priesthor)d by 
the ]>ishop of London, untler whose jurisdiction the 
Church in iVmerica then was, and from whom he ob- 
tained a license to olTiciate in Pennsyhania. He returned 
to Philadelphia in 1772, and was immediately appointed 
one of two assistants to Dr. Peters, rector of the united 
Christ Church and St. Peter's Church, with which parish 
he was to continue connected Uw sixty-four \-ears. 

On the tleath of Rev. Dr. Peters, in 1776, Re\-. Jacob 
Duche, his principal assistant, was electetl rector. pAXMits 
were taking [)lace which would soon ekvate the younger 
assistant to tlie rectorship. The Re\dlution had broken 
out. l)r. Louche at first warmly espoused the cause of 
the colonists, but he grew hopeless of their success in 
1777 and sailetl for Paigland. The rectorship was de- 
clared vacant. Meanwhile Mr. White hatl shown hiiu- 
self an earnest patriot, and in 1776 took the oath of 
allegiance to the United .States. " I know nn- danger," 
he said; "and that it is greater on accoinit of m_\' being 
a clerg)'man of the Chui'ch of fjigiand. lint 1 trust in 
Providence. The cause is a just one, and I am persuaded 
will be protected." 

In 1777, after the occupation of Philadelphi.i l)_\- the 
British, Mr. White was appointed chaplain to Congress, 
and went to York, where Congress was then in session, 
to i)erform the duties of the office. He ixturncd to 
Philadelphia with Congress in Jul)-. 1778, on the retreat 
of the British arm\", resumed his ministry in the united 
churches, and was elected rector in 1779. He continued 




to ser\e as chaplain of Congress till that bod\- removed 
to Washington in i.Sc)i. 

During this inter\-al several meetings of the American 
clergy were held, and in a convention held in (Hirist 
Church in 17S5, under Dr. White's chairmanship, tlie 
title " Protestant P^piscopal Church in the United States 
of .\meiica" was adopted for the American ICpiscopalian 
bodies. As \et, howevi-r, .\merica had no bishoj), and 
no minister could be ortlainetl in this countr)-. Corre- 
spondence with the Knglish Clunch on this subject gained, 
after man\- difficulties, an agreement to consecrate three 
of tile American clergy as bishops. This imjiortant con- 
cession was obtainetl largeK' through the ellorts of Mr. 
White. Its results ha\e been far-reaching. To-day there 
are more than twice as main- colonial as ICnglish bishops. 

Mr. White was one of those chosen, and he was or- 
dained bishop by the Arclibishop of Canterbury in Feb- 
ruarv, 17S7. In May of the same \-ear lie held his first 
ordination service in Christ Church. He continued to 
hokl the rectorshi]^ of Christ and St. Peter's Churches 
till his death, in Julv, 1836. 

]5ishop While numbered among his parisliioncrs such 
men as President (ieorge Washington, ami included 
among his intimate frienils Robert Morris, Benjamin 
iManklin, and other leading men of the time. He was 
a man distinguished for purit\- of character, ann'abilit)' 
of tlisposition, charitable tolerance, and lack of pride or 
arrogance. He was a cultivated scholar, and the author 
of several works of value, including " Lectures on the 
Catechism," " Comparative Views of the Controversy 
between the Calvinists and Arminians," and " Memoirs 
of the Protestant TCpiscopal Church in the United States 
of America." 



i6 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JUDGE WILLIAM TILGHMAN. 

Tp:n'ch Fka.nci.s, a law ycr of IcatliiiL^f prominence in the 
provincial courts, haiJ a dauL;htcr Anne, who married 
James TilL;hman, a member of the I'nnincial Council of 
PennsN'lvania, and an acti\e ro\-alist timing the Revolu- 
tion. Mr. Tilt^hman was a nati\'e of ^L^ryland, and his 
distiuLjuished son William was boi'n in 1756 at Fansle\', 
Mr. Francis'.s estate in Talbot County, Maryland Wil- 
liam Tiltjliman distinguisheil himself in collei^e b\' his 
proj^ress in tlie classics, and at the age of sixteen, his 
father having rcmo\-ed to Philadelphia, was placed in the 
office of Benjamin Chew, of that city, to stud}- law. He 
continued his law studies dining the Revoluticm. and did 
not appl)' for admission to the bar till 1783, when twenty- 
seven years old. He li\ed at this time in jVLir)'land, for 
several years was a member of the l\Lar\iand Legislature, 
and bore a prominent part in the adoption b_\' that State 
of the Federal Constitution. 

I\Larr\-ing, in 1793, the daughter ^A James Allen, son 
of Chief-Justice Allen, of colonial Phihulelphia, Mr, 
Tilghman returned to that cit\-, where he entered upon 
the practice of the law. Philadelphia was then not onh' 
the leading cit)' in population in America, but it had 
become notable for the pre-eminence of its bench and 
bar, and the new lawyer came into competition with men 
of the highest standing and abilit_\- in the [irofessii m. 
Mr. Tilghman was a modest man, and distrustetl his 
powers when opposed to law)'ers of such eminence; but 
as a forensic orator he proved so able as to challenge the 
atlmiration of all who heard him. He had set himself 
a high standard in his close study of the great classic 
orators, and by persistent labors achieved a splendid 
success. 

In 1 80 1 he was appointed by President Adams to the 
bench of the United States Circuit Court, becoming one 



of what were called "The Midnight Judges." This title 
came from the story that they were confirmed b)- the 
President just before midnight of the day on which liis 
term expired. The act was repealed in 1802. In 1S05, 
Tilghman was made President of the Court of Common 
Pleas of Philadelphia, and shortly afterwards became 
President of the First Judicial Circuit of Pennsv'Kania. 
In 1806, Governor McKean appointed him Chief-Justice 
of the Supreme Court of the State, on the resignation 
of Judge Shippen. This position he held till his death, 
on April 30, 1827. 

As a judge, Mr. Tilghman won the highest encomiums 
of all who were associatetl \\ith him. No words but 
those of praise were ever applied to his administration. 
It has been obser\-ed of him, and with justice, that Penn- 
s\i\-ania owes him a debt of gratitude for " the incorpo- 
ration of tlie principles of scientific equit)- with the laws 
of the State." He had come to the bench while it was 
being settled wiuit portions of Fnglish law remained in 
fjrce in PennsyKania, and ^\•Ilat changes were requi.site 
to atlapt them to the needs of a new countr)-, and in this 
dtit)- his ser\'ices were of the highest \'alue. Horace 
Binney says, in his eulogium of him, " His pliilosophical 
mind perceived at once how equit}- could be combined 
with law ; how two systems, apparently discordant, could 
be amalgamated into one homogeneous whole. . . . 
ThiTugh he did not entirely complete that immense work, 
w hich still wants tlie aid of wise legislators and liberal 
judges, lie brought it to that degree of perfection which 
defies all attempts to destro_\- it in future, and Pennsyl- 
vania boasts of a code of laws which her ordinary courts 
may safely administer, without the fear of doing injustice, 
and without needing to be checked b\- an extraordinary 
tribunal professing a different system of jurisprudence." 

Throughout his judicial life he was modest and self- 
distrustful, and so merciful in heart that " he ne\er pro- 
nounced the sentence of death without severe pain. In 
this, as in many other points, he bore a strong resem- 
blance to Sir Matthew Hale." 

Chief-Justice Tilghman, though of decided political 
convictions, avoided prominent connection with politics. 
He became President of the American Philosophical 
Society in 1824, was the first President of the Athe- 
naeum, and a trustee of the Lfni\-ersity of Penns}-l\-ania, 
but held no political offices. 

The Tilghman fimih- can be traced back to an earl)' 
date in luiglish histor\'. The}' held high rank among 
the gentry of Kent long before the coming of the Tudors, 
their scat being Holowa}' Court, at Snodland. Richard 
Tilghman, a surgeon in the English navy, purchased an 
estate on Choptank River, Mar\-land, in 1661, which he 
called the Manor of Canterburj-. He built liis residence 
on Chester River and named it the Hermitage. James, 
above named, was his grandson. 



MAKERS OF PIULADRLPHrA. 



17 



STF.PHEN GIRARI). 

On a f(>i4i;\' iiKirniiiL; in tlic niontli of May, i///, tlic 
cai)taiii of a trading; \csscl Ixmnd from New Orleans to 
a Canadian port found liinisclf 1)\- miscliancc within the 
capes of the Dehiware. Here meeting- a lja\- trader, he 
askeil the captain where he was and what he sliould do. 
" \'ou will ha\e to i;o up stream to riiil.ulelphia," was 
the repl)-. " You dare not ventmx' out, for there is a 
swarm of Hritisii cruisers outside the capes on the look- 
out for prizes." 

And thus it was that Stephen Girard came to Phila- 
delphia ; by chance rather than purpose, l^orn in ]5or- 
deaux, France, in 1750, he had spent nine \-ears as sailor 
and officer on commercial \-o\-aL(es between that port 
and the West Indies. Then, being made captain, he 
made his way to New York, and for three years traded 
from that port to the sc.iuthward. His in\<>luntary \ isit 
to Philadel[)hia in 1777 ended his sea-j^roino^ career. Not 
darin;^ to put to sea attain in face of the Hritish fleet, he 
set up a mercantile business, in a small wa\', on Water 
Street, dealiuL; in e\er\-tliing that came to hand. Two 
months afterwards he married Mary Lunini, a handsome 
servant-girl. When the l^ritish came to Philadelphia, he 
removed to Mount Holly, New Jerse}-, but returneil after 
their departure, and entered upon a vigorous prosecution 
of his business. His diligence, shrewdness, and unremit- 
ting attention to business details bore fruit in a rapiill}- 
increasing trade, and he quickly rose to prominence 
among the merchants of the Quaker Cit\'. 

No longer venturing to sea himself, it was not long 
before he sent \essels out in trading voyages. Begin- 
ning with one small schooner in the West India trade, 
in time he had a noble fleet of merchantmen upon the 
seas, his trading enterprises extending to Cliina, the East 
Indies, and to other distant parts of the globe. His suc- 
cess and good fortune were extraordinary ; his talent for 
business amounted to genius, and he grew rich witii 
unexampled rapidity. Yet wiien worth millions he prac- 
tised a system of the most pinching parsimony, li\-etl a 
lonely and miserh- life, and gainetl the reputation of 
being a hard and unrelenting dealer in his business 
relations with others. His only recreation was an oc- 
casional visit to a small farm he owned out of town, 
where he worked as hard as an\- farmer. His treat- 
ment of his handsome and society-loving wife was so 
exacting that in the end she lost her mind, and died in 
an as\-lum. 

In 1812, Girard added the business of banking to that 
of commerce. He bought the building of the Bank of 
the United States, retaining its funds antl its business, 
and b\- its aid rapidl)- increased his wealth. He died 




December 26, 18 5 1, the richest man up to that time in 
the I'nited States, though his fortune of se\en or eight 
millions of dollars would not be considered in any sense 
extraordinary to-da\'. 

Despite the pinching economy of Girard in business 
affairs and in his ])ersonal expenditures, lie could be gen- 
erous upon occasion, and during the terrible outbreak of 
yellow fe\er in 1793 he worked among the sick with a 
self-sacrificing devotion that was worthy of the iiighest 
praise. The hospital at Bush Hill was remodelled at his 
expense, and he attended the patients there with an un- 
tiring assitluil)', in which he hesitatetl not to perform the 
most loathsome and perilous offices. Many of the in- 
mates owed their li\cs to his care. Many died in liis 
arms. No martj-r to Christian charity ever worked more 
nobly for the relief of the suffering than did Stephen 
Girard during this frightful \isitatioii, and his services on 
this occasion more than atone for all the shortcomings 
of his peculiar life. 

This was not all Stephen Girard did for his adopted 
city. D>ing, lie left all his wealth, with the exception 
of some small bequests, to the city, two million dollars 
of it being appropriated to the building of an orphan 
a.sylum. This mone\-, after his death, was so managed 
that only the income was u.sed in building the college, 
the principal being retained as endowment. This noble 
charity has given a home and training to thousands of 
orphans, and now has over fifteen hundred within its 
walls. The main college building is the grandest ex- 
ample of Corinthian architecture in the United States. 
The bulk of the remainder of Girard's wealth was left to 
the cit)- of Philadelphia for the maintenance of the col- 
lege and other purposes. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHrA. 




JARHIJ INGERSOLL. 

Shortly after 1770, a yoiiiiL^" man. a nati\c of Connec- 
ticLit, laixxl Inycrsdll b)- name, came ti> Pliil,nlcl|)hia, and 
entered the law-office of Joseph Reed, a man nf liiiili 
prominence both in legal and public life. Mr. hv^eisdll 
was born in 1749, graduated at Vale College in 1766, 
and afterwards stuilied law at the 'I'emple, in Lniulon. 
Thence he made his way t<i I'hiladelphia, where he was 
destinetl to attain eminence. After admission to the Phil- 
adelphia bar he spent several years in European tra\'el, 
jxirtly — in stud)', partly in observation f)f the customs 
anil institutions of the older nations. The cidtme antl 
knowledge gainetl during this jdurne)' prox'ctl <if the 
utmost service to him in after-life. lie was twent)'-nine 
years of age when he retLirned to I'hiladelphia and en- 
tered upon the practice of his prolession. 

He was not long in gaining prominence at the bar ; 
his success being greatly aided by the ease ami polish of 
his manners, his fine culture, antl the e.xtentled obser\'a- 
tion which he had made of foreign institutions. It came 
chiefl)-, however, from his close devntion to his profes- 
siiin, his ardent stud)-, cuul his peculiar abilit)' in tile art 
of persuasi\e eloijuence, in which he IkkI few ri\als. His 
legal duties were not performed by undue exaltation of 
his client and derogation of his opi)onent, but by appeals 
to the principles of human eipiit)' anil justice; while his 
sincerit)', integrit)', anil learning gave him great intluence 



alike with judges and jurors. No lawyer has surpassed 
him in that gentlemanl)' deportment and regard for the 
feelings of his associates which are somewhat too apt to 
be wanting in his pi( ifessii m. 

\'et, with all his attention to the amenities of life, Mr. 
Ingersi)!! neglectetl no [jroper means to win in the legal 
arena. stuil\'ing the cases of liis adversaries with as much 
attentiim as he did his own, and attacking them at their 
weakest points, which he had remarkable discernment in 
perceiving. As an adx-ocate, therefore, he was (if un- 
usual powei', being considered the leading man of his 
time in the double art of defending the weak points in 
his own case and assailing those of his adversar)-. His 
[iractice, consequentl)-, became large, particular!)- in the 
Circuit Court of the United States, in which he was 
strikingh' successful in winning cases. His powers were 
best seen in the case in which he, in conjunction with 
Mr. A. J. Dallas, defended William Blount, United States 
Senator fmni Tennessee, who had been impeached on 
the charge of inducing \arious Indian tribes to disregard 
their treaties with the go\'ernment. The speech of Mr. 
Ingersoll on the imiJeachment trial ( 1797) was of striking 
character, and has been held to be one of the best ex- 
amples (if fdreilsic eloquence e\er heard in America. 

During the Revolution, Mr. Ingersoll, although the 
son of a ro)'alist, zealously su]:)ported the side of the 
colonists, and at a later period in life entered earnestly 
upon public duties. He was a member of the Conven- 
tion which framed the United States Constitution in 1787, 
and in I Si 2 was the candidate of the Federal j^art)' for 
the Vice-Presidenc)- of the United States. In 181 1 he 
was appointed b)' Governor Snyder Attorney-General of 
Penns)-lvania. This post he held twice, was once United 
States District-Attornc)-, and from 1820 till his death in 
1822 was President-Judge of the District Court of Phila- 
del|:ihia. 

No man had ever done more honor and ser\ice to the 
bar of Philadelphia, a service which was continued by 
his s(_in, Joseph Reed Ingersoll, who attained a high rank 
in the legal profession, and for a considerable number of 
N'ears served as a member of the United States House 
of Representatives. In 1852 he was appointed Minister 
to I-Cngland. j\iiother son, Charles J.ired Ingersoll, also 
seixetl in Congress, and was appointed L'nited States 
District-Attorney for Pennsylvania in 1815. He was 
the author of " Chiomara," a poem, and of " Historical 
Sketch of tlie Scconil War between the United States of 
America and Great Britain." 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



•9 



HON. RICHARD RUSH. 

Dk. Bknjamix Rrsii, whose distiiiL^iiislicd caiwr wc 
have already describcil, left twn sons, Ixilli woitliv '^^ coni- 
nicndation. Of these Riehard Rush particularly calls for 
notice, from his inipoitaiit puMic career. Boin in 17S0, 
he L;ratluated at Princeton in ijwj, and eiUeied upon the 
study of the law . He would doulitless lia\e achie\ed a 
i;reat reput.itioii in this [)rofession hut foi' his predilection 
for a politic. d lile. llis defence of Williani 1 )u.ule, who 
wa.s charged with libel on Gcnernor McKean, was so able 
a.s to bring him much reputation. In iSi 1 he was made 
Attorney-tjenei'.d ot I'ennsyK ,uiia, but resigned this office 
before the year ended, to accejjt ih.it of Couiptroller of 
the United .States Treasm'\-. llis next public position 
was that of Attorne}'-General of the United States. This 
he held fi'om 1814 to I. Si 7, in which \'ear he seized fir 
a time as -Secretar)' of .State, and was then sent as L'nitetl 
.States Minister to iMigland, which [)ost he retained until 
1825. 

During his eight \'ears as Minister he negotiated several 
important treaties, principally that of 181S, respecting the 
fisheries antl the north-e.istern l)ound,uy. In 18J5 John 
Quincy Atlams, then President, recalled him, ,md ap- 
pointetl him Sccretar\' of the Treasur\-. Jhree \-ears 
later he ran for the \'ice-Presidenc}' in association with 
Ad.uns fir President. The ticket was defeated, but Air. 
Rush did not cease his public serxices under the new 
President. He used his inlluence .ihi'oad to obtain fir- 
eign loans for the city of Washington and (itlier places, 
and in 1836 was sent by President Jackson to luigland, 
with the important commission of obtaining from the 
]5ritish courts the leg,ic\- cif James Smithson to the United 
States. In this mission he was .successful, gaining the 
fidl amount of the legac\', 8515,169, — a sum from whose 
wise disposition has grown the tlourisliing .Smithsonian 
Institution, one of the most [promising of nioilern scien- 
tific institutions. 

In 1847. Mr. Rush was again selectetl to serve his 
countr\- abroad, being appointed b\- President Polk Min- 
ister to P'rance, a position which he filled with much 
credit. He was the first of the foreign ministers at Paris 
to recognize the French Republic of 1848. In I S49 he 
resigned this position and returned to the United States, 
to spend the remainder of his life in prixate pui'suits in 
the cit\' of his Ijii'th. 1 le died at .Syilcnh.un, his countr\-- 
seat, near Philadelphia, Jul\- 30, i85(j. 

In addition to his leg.il and diplomatic duties, Mr. 
Rush paid much attention to liter.iture, and was the 
author of a number of works on political ,md similar 
themes. These inckule " Laws of the United .States," 
published in 1S15 ; " Memoranda of a Residence at the 
Court of -St. James," 1833; " Incitk-nts, ( )fficial and Per- 
sonal, from 1S19 to 1825," a second \olume on the same 
theme, 1845; "Washington in Domestic Life," 1857; 




and "Occasional Productions," published after his 
death. 

His brotlKr, 1 )i-. |,uiies Rush, born 1786, followed his 
father's profession, graduating hum the medical college 
of the Lhii\'ersit_\- in i8o<). He practist'd for some time 
in Phil.ulelphia, .liter pi'eiiininar_\- stud}- in lulinburgh, but 
gave little attention to his profession after his marriage to 
the daughter of Thomas Ridgwa)'. who brought him a 
[irincely fortune. Mrs. Rush was long a brilliant leader 
of societ_\- in Phiku.lelphi.i. but her husband, inclined to 
stutlious h.djits, spent the most of his later years in the 
seclusion of his libr.u')-. His studies were signalized by 
a number of w (irks, notabl)' "The Philoso])hy of the Hu- 
man \'oice," which able critics declared to be the most 
philosophical wurk on the \-oice and human speech e\'er 
produced. His other wurks were " Hamlet, a Dramatic 
Prelutle." 1834; ■• .\nal\-sis of the Human Intellect," 
1865; " Rlnaiies of t'ontrast in Wisdom and I'"oll\-," a 
satirical dialogue, 1869. He diid Ma_v 26, 1869. 

Mr. Rush left his estate to the Philadelphia Library, 
and the l)ulk of it has been exjiended in building the 
massi\e granite building on south Broad -Street, known 
as the " Ridgwa)- Branch of the Philadel[)hia Library." a 
noble monument to literature, anil one of the most im- 
posing and striking eilifices in this countr)-. 

This building stands in the si|uare of ground bounded 
by Broad, Thirteenth, Christian and Carpenter .Streets, 
in a solitar\- grandeur which gi\es a fine effectivenes.s to 
its magnificent Grecian fac^ade. The building is admira- 
bly appointed within, and is made the receptacle of the 
le.ss used hooks and treasures of the Library, some of 
them of great anticjuarian value. In a room set apart 
for the purpose are kept certain costly articles of furni- 
ture which belonged to Mrs. Rush, and in another apart- 
ment is containetl the tomb of Dr. and Mrs. Rush. 



20 



JUKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




HON. HORACE BINNEY. 

Horace Binnev, a prominent member of the bar of 
Philadelphia, was born in that city, Januar}' 4, 1780, of 
English and Scotch parentage. His father had been a j 
surgeon in the Revolutionarv- army. In 1788 he was 
placed in a classical school in Bordentown. New Jersey, 
where he distinguished himself by his proficiency in Greek. 
In 1793 he went to Harvard, and graduated in 1797, 
dividing the highest honors with a single classmate. He 1 
had been an ardent student, and the habit of study con- : 
tinued with him throughout life, and was regarded by I 
him as his most valuable acquisition. Choosing the pro- ; 
fession of law, he entered the office of Jared Ingersoll, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1800, having just passed 
his twentieth year. 

In his new profession Mr. Binney's progress in ob- 
taining business was slow, but bv unflag<nniT industrv ! 
and evident merit he gradually gained a lucrative prac- 
tice, and was in a few years looked upon as a leader at 
the bar. He was elected to the State Legislature in 
1806, but served one year only, and declined re-election. 
His legal business had now grown verj" large, and before 
181 5 he had one of the most lucrative practices and 
highest reputations of any member of the American bar. 

Bet\veen 1807 and 18 14 he published six volumes of 
decisions of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. These 
are looked upon as almost perfect models of their kind, 
though among the earliest of American law reports. His 
attention to business continued unremitting till 1830, soon 
after which impaired health admonished him to retire 
from practice. Partly to avoid the weight of business 
cares, but partly for another reason, he now accepted a 
nomination to the national legislature, and was elected 
a member of the House in the Twent\--third Congress. 



His second reason for accepting this nomination was the 
hostilit}- of President Jackson to the United States Bank. 
The veto of the bill to recharter this institution had 
excited deep feeling in Philadelphia, where the value of 
the bank was best known, and Mr. Binney defended it 
with the ability of a statesman and the skill of a trained 
debater before Congress, particularly in regard to the 
question of the removal of the United States deposit from 
the bank. 

At the end of his term in Congress, ^Ir. Binney de- 
clined re-election. He also definitely withdrew from legal 
practice, other than to give occasional written opinions 
upon legal questions. These opinions cover abstruse 
subjects in e\er\- department of law. and are models of 
deep and exact knowledge, e.vtensive research, clear dis- 
crimination, and just conclu.sion.and have been generally 
accepted as of an authority little below that of judicial 
decisions. Mr. Binney only once reappeared in the 
courts. This was in 1844, when he became an advocate 
for the Citj- Councils of Philadelphia in the celebrated 
Girard will case. His argument in this case is still a 
subject of admiration by the legal profession of this 
countr}-, and little less so by that of Great Britain. 
The argument, with its vigorous reasoning and ample 
research, its precision of statement and beaut}- of lan- 
guage, has had few equals, and formed a fitting close to 
a brilliant professional career. 

In 1827 he delivered an address on the life and char- 
acter of Chief-Justice Tilghman, and in 1835 a similar 
one on Chief-Ju.stice Marshall. In 1858 he published 
an appreciative biographical sketch of Judge Bushrod 
Washington, and in the same year sketches of three 
leaders of the old Philadelphia bar. All these efforts 
were much admired. In 1858 he published "An Inquirj- 
into the Formation of Washington's Farewell Address," 
which strikingly indicated his habits of investigation 
and reasoning, and methods of mental action. He also 
published, in 1 862-1 863, three pamphlets sustaining 
the power of President Lincoln to suspend the habeas 
corpus act. He died in 1875, forty years after he had 
withdrawn from practice, — except to the extent men- 
doned, — to his last years keeping up his habits of con- 
tinuous reading and close study. 

One of his friends thus designates him : " He was an 
advocate of great power; a master of ever}- question 
in his causes ; a wary- tactician in the management of 
them ; highh" accomplished in language ; a faultless 
logician ; a man of the purest integrit}- and the highest 
honor; fluent without the least vol ubilit}-; concise to a 
degree that left ever}- one's patience and attention un- 
impaired ; and perspicuous to almost the lowest order 
of understanding while he was dealing with almost the 
highest topics." 



MAK/iRS or PIIILADHLPfirA. 



21 



ALEXANDER J. DALLAS. 

Alexandkr James Dallas was bom in tlu- island of 
Jamaica, where his father, Robert Charles Dallas, a 
Scotch pln-sician of eminence, had resided for several 
years. The date of his birth was June 21, 1759. While 
he was still youni;- his father returned to Scotland, mainU- 
to give his children educational ad\antaj4'es, which could 
not be obtainctl in the West Indic's. lie was jjlaced 
in a school at Kensington, near London. 1 lis father 
died during his school years, Iea\ing an embarrassed 
estate, while his mother married again. The bo\-, then 
only fifteen, and thrown on his own resources, entered 
the Temple to study law, but soon entered the counting- 
house of his uncle, where he remained for two years. 
He then remmed to Devonshire, where he read law, 
and at the age of twent\--one married the daughter of 
Major George Smith. .Shortl\- afterwards he returned 
to Jamaica, antl in 1783 came to the LInited States, 
landing at Pliiladel])hia. 

Although full)- competent to practise law, he was 
obliged to wait, b_\- the Pennsyhania regulations, two 
years before he could be admitted to the bar. While 
waiting he engaged in literary work, writing theatrical 
prologues, epilogues, and dramatic pieces, with a view- to 
the ad\ancement of the American stage. He continued 
his literary labors after his admission to practice in 1785, 
writing for several periodicals, and helping L^rancis Hop- 
kinson to edit the Colnnihian Magazine. His most im- 
portant literary work, however, was in connection with 
his profession, in which he made rapid progress, and in 
1790 published the first \olume of his monumental work; 
" Reports of Cases in the Courts of the United States 
and of Pennsylvania before and since the Revolution." 
Three other volumes were subsequently published, the 
whole work being one of the most \aluable contributions 
ever made to the American law librar)-. 

Mr. Dallas quickly became prominent in politics, in 
which field his mental versatility, ardent temperament, 
and power of continued labor brought him to the fa\or- 
able notice of the new government. In 1791 he was 
appointed by Go\ernor Mifflin Secretar}- of the Com- 
monwealth of Penns\-lvania, which post he held till iSoi. 
During this period he published " The Laws of Pennsyl- 
vania from 1700 to 1801," and in 1795, a pamphlet en- 
titled " Features of Jay's Treat}-," in which he stroiigly 
opposed the ratification of the treaty with ICngland ne- 
gotiated by John Jay. In 1793 he took part in the 
formation of the Democratic Society of PennsyK-ania. 
During this period, and for many years afterw-ards, the 
violence of party' spirit led to impeachments of .Slate 
and national judges and other officials. Mr. Dallas 




took a ver\- prominent [i.ut in these trials, generally in 
defence of the accused; his arguments being especially 
\-aluable in settling the fundamental principles of the 
new system of go\-ernment. 

In 1801 (iovernor McKean appointed him Recorder 
of the Cil_\- of Philadelphia, .uid President Jefferson 
appointed him L'nited States District-yVttorne)^ for the 
l'".astern District of Pennsylvania. He resigned the office 
of recorder in 1802, but held the other posititjn till 1814, 
in which year he was appointed b_\- President Madison 
.Secretary of the Treasury. 

The go\ernnient was then in .dmost a bankru])t con- 
dition, and loans could not be made. ]\Ir. Dallas insisted 
on the necessity of a national bank, and succeeded in 
having one chartered, with a capital of 535,000,000. A 
large issue of Treasury notes was made, and in a short 
time confidence was restored and the paper of the gov- 
ernment was taken at par. He also prepared and prc- 
sentetl to Congress a new- tariff, which met with similar 
success. In March, 1815, he added to his duties in the 
Cabinet those of .Secrctar\- of War, in which he success- 
full)- rechiced the army to a peace footing. He resigneil 
both offices in November, 1816, and returned to the 
practice of his profession in Philadelphia. He died sud- 
denly on January 16, 181 7. 

In addition to the works named, he published an 
" Plxposition of the Causes and Character of the Late 
War" (181 5), and several legal and political tracts. One 
of his biographers has said of him that " If he had not 
been a lawyer, he would have been a great statesman ; if 
he had not been a statesman, he would hasc been one of 
the greatest hnwers of the age." 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




MATTHEW CAREY. 

I\T\rTiiE\v CAKI•:^■,a noteti publislicranil pcilitical econo- 
mist of Philadelpliia, was bdni in I)iil)lin, Ireland, in \'(iO. 
the son of an extensive iDaker and army contractor. At 
the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to a printer and 
bookseller, despite his father's a\-ersion to the business, 
and quickly became an omnivorous readei', mastering the 
contents of all books upon which he could la\' his hands. 
The early development of his sentiments in favor of re- 
f )rm is shown by a pamj^hlet written by him in 1 779, 
which was destined to strikingly influence his future life. 
It was entitled "The Urgent Necessit\- of an Immediate 
Repeal of the Whole Penal Code against the Roman 
Catholics." The announcement of the title aroused such 
gON'ernmental indignation, and so frightened certain timid 
Catholics, that the latter offeretl a reward fnr tlie dis- 
covery of the author ; and \-oung Carey's father, learning 
its origin, suppressed the pamphlet and sent his daring 
son to Paris with letters of introduction that brought 
him to the notice of Dr. Franklin, who ga\-e him work 
in his printing-office at Pass\-. 

He returned after a j'car to Dublin, worked there on 
The Freeman's Journal, M\t\ in 1783 started I'hc I'olun- 
Iccr s Journal, its purpose being to promote agitation for 
the parliamentary independence of Irelantl. This portion 
of his career was entled by an arrest fir libelling the 
Irish Parliament, and a commitment to Newgate til! the 
end of the session, and in 1784 the young reformer, dis- 
gusted with Ireland, emigrated to the United .States, 
landing at Philadelphia. La Fa\ette, whom he had met 
in P'rance, was then visiting this countr\', and took great 
interest in the young Irish patriot, not onl\- recom- 
mending him to persons of influence, but gi\'ing him 
four hundred dollars to start a new.spapcr. This, which 
he named The Pennsylvania E^>ening Herald, was first 



issued in Januar\-, 17S5, and made a beginning of re- 
porting the speeches of legislative bodies and public 
orators. A political dispute during its publication ended 
in a duel, in which Mr. Care\- was wounded, in conse- 
quence of w hich he was confined to his room for a ii'ear. 

In 17S6 he joined with others in starting The Colum- 
bian Magar^ine, but soon withdrew from this, and in 
January, 1787, began to publish The Ameriean Museum, 
which was maintained f)r si.x \-ears, and was much 
the best magazine published at that time in America. 
After its demise he began publishing and book-selling 
on a small scale, establishing a business which rai)idl\- 
grew, and in which he continued until 1825. 

Air. Care_\''s jihikmthropic spirit was strongly mani- 
fested during the }'ellow fever epidemic of 1793, in which 
he served on the committee for the relief of the sick and 
the care of orphans. He afterwards published an account 
of the pestilence, which ran through four editions. In 
1796 he helpetl to establish the Sunda_\--School Society, 
and was the first to move in the founding of the Hiber- 
nian Society. In iSoi he suggested the establishment 
of book fairs, similar to those of Leipsic, a suggestion 
which was adopted at a meeting of booksellers in New- 
York the following year. B_\' this time his own business 
as a publisher had become one of the most extensive and 
lucrati\ e in America, and many alike of the most popular 
and the most costh' books of that period bear his imprint. 

His public career as an economist began in 1806, when 
he issued a pamphlet containing strictures upon the sys- 
tem of taxation pursued in Philadelphia, b\' which real 
estate and ground-rents were taxed to the exemption of 
persc.Mial property. In 18 10 he strongK' supported the 
proposal to renew the charter of the United States Bank, 
publishing letters on the subject and visiting Washington 
to urge its renewal. He fiiled in this, however ; even 
the directors of the bank being too timid and lukewarm 
to aid his efforts. In 18 14 appeared his celebrated " Olive 
Branch," designed to soften the severe part}' asperities of 
that period. It passed through ten editions in less than 
four )-ears, and proved of great utility. Among his other 
public mo\-ements was his aid in the f irmation of the 
" Phikulelphia Society for the Promotion o{ National 
Industr\-." For this society he published numerous 
pamphlets, and though he withdrew from it in 1820, in 
consequence of some di\'ersit)- of opinion, he continued 
to agitate the subject for thirteen years, in which he pub- 
lished more than two thousand pages of matter. It was 
his earnest conviction that the free-trade policy would be 
ruinous to the country, and he opposed it with the greatest 
ardor. His philanthropy was shown by his earnest ap- 
peals for the support of the poor of Philadelphia, his ad- 
vocacy of the emancipation of the slaves, his support of 
the Colonization Societ\% and in other ways. Mr. Carey 
died in 1839, having withdrawn from business in 1825. 



J/.IA'/^RS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



^3 



NICHOLAS BIDDLK. 

Nuiiiii.AS HiDiiLF,, s<i WL'll kniiwii fur liis connection 
with till- L'nitcd States Hank' at the most fxcitins^ jx-riod 
1)1 its liutuiK-s. was tlic sciii nf Chai'lcs lliddlc, at one 
time X'icc-l'resident (if tlie e<inini(in\\eahh of IVniisyl- 
winia. and a neplleu of ("(iniinddiu'e liiddle, niie oi' tile 
leadiiiL; nlficers of tile Aiiieiicaii na\y dniiiiL; the Re-\-o- 
lution. He was born in I'liiladelphia in l 7,S(), uas edu- 
cated at Princeton C.'ciIleL;e, _L;raduated in iSoi, and 
afterwaids spent several \-ears in Eui'dpe. In i .S07 he 
returned to Anieiica, and for sniiie time edited a lite- 
rary journal named The Pcii-Iui/in, while his public life 
began in 1810, as a member of the rennsylvania Le_L;is- 
lature. After a period of ser\'ice as Representati\e, he 
was elected to the State Senate, in which he ser\e<-i from 
I 8 14 to 1S17. In 1 8 19 he was appointed by President 
Monroe a director of the United States Paiik, an institu- 
tion which IkrI beL;im its second term of existence a few- 
years before. 

This second Hank of the L'nited St.ites was, like the 
first, located in Pliiladeliihia, with branches elsewhere, 
and was voted into existence in iSiTi, uiulei' a twenty 
\'e<irs' cliai ter. It be'_;.ni oper.itioiis in 1S17, and by its 
aid specie pa\inents, which had ceased since the w .ir, 
weie soon resumed. In 1825, Mr. Hitldle, on the letire- 
nieiit of Mr. Che\es, the presitlini; officer, w.is made 
presitleiit of the l;>ank, which puisued its career thence- 
forth under his manatjement. L'p to this time the bank 
had had a desultorj- histoi)'. In i8i(^ it was almost 
bankru])t, and in its vi_L;(.irous effort to preserve itself, b\- 
contraction of its obIi;j;ations, prostrated the business in- 
terests of the coinitry. It took three oi- four years to 
recover from the tlnanci.d straits into which the counti'}' 
had fallen, the risiiiLj tide of confidence onl_\- fairl_\- show- 
ing itself at the date of Air. Biddle's appointment to the | 
presidcnc}". By his financial measures lie ipiickl}' sup- 
plied the counti\- with ,1 unif )rni currenc)-, aiul the b.mk 
moved on in a prosperous career until after tile date of 
President Jackson's election, when its troubles began. 
The new President was bitterl)' hostile to the bank and 
strongU" disliked its jjresident, and he took the first op- 
portunity to institute hostile measures against the object 
of his settled ilislikc. 

The conllict began in the refusal of Mr. Piddle to 
remo\'e Jeremiah Mason, [jresident of the Portsmouth 
branch, and a friend of Mr. Webster, at the President's 
demand. This was in the summer of 1829. In De- 
cember of that N'car the Piesident's message took the 
countr\- by surprise, by its intimation that the charter of 
the bank was unconstitutional. It was in 18 :^2, howe\'er, 
that the conflict reached its clitnax. A bill to rechartcr 
the bank on the expiration of its charter in 1836 was 




passed in that )'ear b)- both houses of Congress, but was 
\etoed by the President. In the succeeding \-ear the 
President dealt the bank a still more serioirs blow, by 
witlulrawing from it the public tleposits, amounting to 
neail)- S8,ocx3,ooo. This action prf)ved for the time 
i)eing ruinous to the counti)'. The b.mk contracteil its 
credits, the State banks did the same, and a period of 
financial distress and business ruin succeeded such as 
the counti)- had ne\-er before known. 

In 1830 the bank ceased operations, its charter being 
at an end. The State of Penns\-lvania chartered a new 
bank, called also the " United States Bank," and Mr. 
P)iddle was made i>resident of this new institution. The 
funds of the old bank we-re ti-ansferred to the new one, 
and the b.mk went out of existence without a dollar of 
loss to the l'nited States or to an_\- of its stockholders. 
Mr. Biddlc ga\-e to the new- institution the benefit of Iiis 
experience and abilit\', ami for several years it seemeil 
to ])rosper. But a period of over-exjiansion and of 
extensi\e banking based on paper followed, and then 
came a second crash. The bank failed September 4, 
1841, and a degree of disaster again came upon the 
business interests of the country. Mr. Biddle was un- 
justl)' blamed b_\- the general public, who held him 
responsible for the defects of an erroneous system of 
national finance which must ha\-e brought final disaster 
uiick-r ail)- management. 

Mr. Hiddle was [)resident of the Ciraril College board 
of trustees, and "to his exertions alone the countrj- owes 
one of the most beautilul structures of modei'n times, 
the Ciirard College. He pro])osed the present plan, per- 
sisted firml}-, and secured a building w Inch e\'er\- citiz.en 
now not only appro\-es, l)ut aijpkuuls." He died in Feb- 
ruary, 1844. 



24 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




CASPAR WISTAR, M.D. 

In the consolidatinii df twn of the most important 
educational instituticins of I'hiladelphia — the Collei^e of 
Medicine and tlie Uni\'er,sit_\- — no man was more instru- 
mental than Dr. Caspar Wistar, who clearly saw the 
advantages likely to result tVoni such a combination. 
He was destined himself to adorn the new institution for 
many 1,'ears afterwards. Dr. Wistar was born in I'liila- 
del[)hia in ijGr, his father being German, his mother: 
I'Jiglish in origin. He was educated at the h'riends' ; 
Academ\', anil studietl meilicine under 1)|-. John Red- 
man. lie afterwanls entereil the L'niv ersit\' as a student, I 
and graduated in 17S2. I 

Follouing the exam])le of most of the eminent ph\'- 
sicians of the last centur\-, he went abroad after giadu- 
ation and studied at Edinburgh, where he showed such 
ability as a student that, though a citizen of a countr)- 
which hatl just defeated Great Britain in a seven years' 
struggle for independence, his fellow-students elected 
him one of the presidents of the Royal Medical Society 
of Kdinburgh and president of the Natural History So- 
ciety. He also became intimately acquaintetl with and 
highly esteemed by man)* men of distinguished reputa- 
tion in medicine and letters. In 1786 he gratluated as 
Doctor of Medicine, and returned to Philadelphia in 1787. 

His record abroad was well known in his native city, 
and he was at once given a position in the Philadelphia 
Dispensary and elected Fellow of the College of Phy- 
sicians. He was also asked to join the Philosophical 
Society, his studies abroad having taken a wider scope 



than medicine. At that time this society included among 
its members such men as Benjamin Franklin, David 
Rittenhouse, and Thomas Jefferson. Dr. Wistar ac- 
cepted the in\itation, and soon became a leading .spirit 
in the institution antl a warm personal friend of Jefferson, 
which fi'iendship continued for life. 

The consolidation of the Medical College with the 
Universit)', in which Dr. Wistar took so prominent a 
part, placed Philadelphia in the lead in medical educa- 
tion in the United States. In the new school he became 
Professor of Chemistry and Physiology, under Dr. Shij)- 
pen, and subsequently succeeded the latter in the chair 
of Anatomy and .Surger\-. As to his abilit\' as a pro- 
fessor, we may quote the eloquent words of Dr. Hosack : 

" He at once e\'inccd those great qualifications by 
which he was afterwards distinguished. The same flu- 
enc\- of utterance, the un.iffected ease and simplicit\- of 
manner, the perspicuity of expression, the animation and 
earnestness arising from the con\iction of the truths he 
was delix'ering, antl the reatliness with which he sum- 
moned and applied the numerous and varied resources of 
his mind, which man\- now in my hearing have had an 
opportunity of witnessing, Dr. Wistar dispkned in the 
most remarkable manner in the first lectures he deli\-ered. 
Such were his fascinating powers of description that, even 
ii[)on those subjects that are usually considered as an un- 
iiniting part of a course of anatomical lectures, the atten- 
tion of his hearers was ever awakened and unremitting. 
F\en in the demonstration of a muscle or a bone his 
views were those of a jihilosopher as well as of the anat- 
omist." 

His intercourse with his stiulents was of the hap[)iest 
ami most intimate character. He atlopted the habit of 
often inviting parties of them to supper at his mansion, 
exerting over them, b)- this means, a beneficial influence 
which could not be attained in the lecture hall. These 
parties e.xpanded into weekly receptions, at which gathered 
the most cultured of the people of the city and gifted 
visitors from other places. These occasions, continued 
long after his tleath under the name of the " Wistar 
Parties," formed an lionorable memorial of their founder. 

Mr. Jefferson resigned the presidency of the Philo- 
sophical Society in 18 1 5, and w.is succeeded b}' Dr. 
Wistar, who had for twenty years been one of its vice- 
presidents. He remained ]iresident until his death in 
18 iS. In addition to medicine, he was a student of 
several sciences, particularly zoology, w'hich he pursued 
with much zest. He was the author of a work on " Hu- 
man Anatomy," which long held its place as a text-book. 



MAK/iKS Ol' I'H/f.AD/iLr/ffA. 



25 



DAVID LANDRHTH. 

The Landreth famil)- is one whose ofiLjin can be traced 
back to a remote period, its first known ])rogenitor beiiiLj 
one of a colony whicli came from Manders to England 
at a distant epoch in h',n_L;"Iish history. This innniLjrant 
— who wrote his name Landrath — settled at Herwick-on- 
Tweed. Passins^r tjown the lony line of his descendants, 
we come at leni^th to an (31i\er Laiuheth, whose son 
was named Cuthbert, wh()se son l)a\id, the first Ameri- 
can of the famil)-, was born at llaggerston, in the 
county of North umberlantl. 

The elder David Landreth emigrated to America late 
in the last century, making I'hiladelphia his home, and 
establishing there in 17S4 a nursery and seed business. 
Its location, on what was then known as High Street, is 
now co\ered by the building iJio antl 121 2 Market 
Street. The raising of trees and production of seeds 
were conductetl on land near b\', particularly on a tract 
at Twelfth and Filbert Streets. This locality i)ro\'ing 
too contracted for the purpose, the iun'ser\' and seed 
grounds were removed in i/cSij to the " Neck," then con- 
sidered far out of town, the place chosen being not far 
distant from the site of the present Arsenal. 

The subject of the jiresent sketcli, the younger Da\itl 
Landreth, was born in Philadeljjhia in 1802. When of 
suitable age he entered acti\'el\- into his fither's business, 
which hatl considerably e.xtendeil in I'lliladelphia. while 
a branch house had been opened in Cliarleston, South 
Carolina. The young man's earl}- duty was that of 
manager of this Charleston branch. (Jf the Charleston 
business it will suffice here to sa}- that it continued till 
the era of the Ci\il War, when it came to a sudden end 
by the act of the Confederate States District Court, 
wiiich confiscated the real estate and merchandise alike, 
on April 22, 1862. 

The younger Da\id Lantlreth in 1828 succeeded his 
father as proprietor of the well-established and thriving 
business in Philadelphia, a business which was to remain 
highly prosperous for half a century afterwarils under 
his fostering care. His time, however, was not wholly 
occupied with the details of business, but was turned at 
an early age towards the literature of husbandr)- antl to 
enterprises of public interest. Among the latlei' may be 
mentioned the Philatlelijliia Horticultural Societ}-, of 
which, in 1827, he was one of the founders, and in 1828 
was elected corresponding secretar_\', which office he hekl 
for seven years. At a subsequent date he was made 
President of the Philadelphia Societ\' for the Promotion 
of Agriculture, and Vice-President of the United States 
Agricultural Societ\', and became an acti\-e member of 
man)- other organizations. 

His literary labors inclutled the puljlication ot the 




Illustrated Floral MngarJiu\ started in 1S32, and an ad- 
vanced work for that period. At a later date he wrote 
much upon husbandry, his graceful style as a writer, and 
his technical knowledge of the subject, making his \iews 
of much value in the progress of the industry. 

In 1S47 the Landreth nursery w-as remo\-ed to Blooms- 
dale, where Wr. Landreth established the most complete 
seed-farm in the United States, and where he planted an 
arboretum which stands unequalled in this country in the 
development of its trees. He w-as an earl)- breeder of 
the Channel Island cattle, then styleil Alderneys, and 
was among the earliest manufacturers of mowing and 
reaping machiner)-. In 1872-73 he experimented in 
steam-plowing with a Scotch engine, and in the follow-ing 
)-ear with an American engine. Subsequentl)-, steam- 
digging and steam-chopping were exiJerimented w ith at 
Bloomsdale, and man\- impro\-ements produced in the 
machine-shop of that model farm. 

David Landreth li\ed until i88o in tlie enjo)-ment 
and care of the business wliich had been so much de- 
\elo]K'd in his hands, and which had reached almost its 
hundredth )-ear. The firm is now one of the thirty cen- 
tenary firms of the United States. During a long life 
he had served liis country in connection with agriculture, 
a pursuit w Inch he dignified by the wide respect lie had 
gained as an old-school countr)- gentleman, and his 
re[nitatiori as an able aiul learned agriculturist. In early 
life he had lived amid the plantations of the Landreth 
nursery, one of the show- places of Philadelphia, — the 
site now- marked In" the Landreth School, — and his 
virtues and character were those of one brought up in 
intimate contact witli Nature. 



26 



.U.IA7;RS of PHILADlil.PIIIA. 




j(JHN R. NHFF. 

Joiix Rinmi'M Xi;i i' was bom January 12, I/Scj, at 
Frankford, in I'lnladclpliia County. I'cnn^yK ania. He 
received a lair school education, to wliicli he adiled 
two years at Princeton. At the aye of fifteen, in con- 
sei-iuence of the deatii ot iiis fatller, he was called upon 
to assume tile responsibilities of lite. His preferences 
in;lined to the mercantile line ol busines.s, anil he en- 
tered tile countinLj-house of the Messrs. Israel, shipping 
merchants, on I'ront .Stieet, Philadelphia. 

About the \ear I Si 5. when he was in the twent}-- 
sixtli j-ear of his aL;e, and had acquired sufficient busi- 
ness experience to trust to his own eflorts, he began 
business for himself, selcctiiiL; the Western tiade as the 
most promising, and establishing himself near the centre 
of that traffic, his store being at No. 266 Market Street, 
which was theit near Pjghth Street. lie ditl not, how- 
ever, long remain in that location, having changetl liis 
business views, and decided to turn his attention to ship- 
ping interests. 

In 1 817 he entered into partnership with his brother, 
William Neff, and the firm established itself in the 
building of Latimer & Murdock, which was (jn the 
north side of the second alley above Arch Street, and 
extended from the wharf to No. 67 North Water Street. 
The firm of John K. & William Neff afterwards remo\'ed 
to No. 37 North Water Street, below Arch Street, and 
in the square then occupied by Stephen Girard, Samuel 
V. Anderson, Gustavus & Hu<jh Calhoun, Montsomerv 
& Newbold, .Smith & Ridgway, and others. 

About 1822 the firm was dissolved, with a \-iew to 
the formation of a new firm, under the title of Neff & 
Brothers, which was composed of J. R. Neff William 
Neff, and another brother. The last two removed to 
Cincinnati, leaving J. R. Neff to conduct the Philadel- 



phia business. In the West the house became principally 
engaged in the shoe business, to which it added hard- 
ware, and grew to be one of the largest concerns in Ohio. 
Subsec[uentl\' the business was extended to Louisville, 
Kentucky, where it was represented by Neff, Wanton & 
Compaii)'. 

The Pliiladel])hia house remained for several years at 
No. 37 North Water Street, but finall\' was remox'ed to 
No. 6 North Wharxes, which was, we believe, the last 
establishment occupied by the subject of our sketch. 

The bLisiness of the Neffs in this city and in the Western 
States grew to be an extensive and prosperous one. The 
ship[)ing trade, in which the Phil.idelphia house was 
largely concerned, was managed b)- John R. Neff, who es- 
tablished connections with Sax'annah and other Southern 
ports, and in time de\elc^ped a large maritime trade. 
His vessels were known as regular [jackets, the brig 
" Francis" being a fuorite in this line. The captain of 
the " P'rancis" diec-l while in the employment of the firm, 
lea\ing his fimih- in fiir circumstances. Mr. Neff, how- 
ever, preseiitetl the witlow' with a check for several thou- 
sand dollars, as a debt which, while not legally due, he 
generously considered that he owed the c'ljjtain as his 
share of the earnings of the brig, notwithstanding the 
fact th.it the captain had always been ])aid according to 
his agreement. The narration of this act is but a just 
tribute to the kindness and generosity of Mr. Neff 

Henry Sloan and Charles P. Relf two of our most 
estimable citizens, were clerks, about 1821, in Mr. Nefif's 
store. 

He shrank' from taking public [lositions, and avoided 
them whenever possible. He was, howe\'er, a director 
tif the P.iiik of the PJnited States in its best days; a 
manager of the Phil.idelphia Saving P'uiul Societ}- from 
April 5, 1S24, until his death, July 24, 1863; and a 
director in the Insurance Compaii)' of North America 
from 1 84 1 to the time of his death. The Provident 
Societ}' and other associations of bene\-olence and charity 
also engaged his care. To all of them he was a valuable 
and liberal friend. 

In political life he ser\'ed in the General Assembly 
for two terms, and was a member of the City Councils 
during the old times when the city of Philadelphia was 
bounded on the north b\' \'ine Street aiul on the south 
b_\' Cedar (now South) Street. He ser\ed as a member 
of the Councils Committee on the Girard estates at the 
time when measures were taken \.o construct the college 
edifice. 

Mr. Neff attached himself at an early age to the First 
Presbyterian Church, and continuetl until his death a 
member of that church. He died on the 24th of July, 
1863, lea\'ing behind him that most j^recious bequest of 
the merchant — a good name and the reputation of a life 
marked b)' kindness, generosity, and justice. 



JlfAKRRS Ol' PlIILADIU.rHIA. 



27 



GENERAL ROBERT PATTERSON. 

Major-General Rot-ert Tatterson was bdni at Caj) 
pagli, County Tyrone, Irchuul, Januan- 12, 179J. In i 
179S his father l)eeanie implicated in thi' " Irish Rebel- \ 
linn," anil alter its suppression escaped t<> America, whei-e 
ho settled in Delaware Count}-, I'ennsylv.uiia. Rdbert 
was educated in the connnon schools, and when of 
j)ro[)er aije became a clei'k in .1 I'liil.idelphia cnuntini^- 
house. His lust milit.n-)' experience was in the War <if 
1812, in which he recei\ed the commissidii nf first lieu- 
tenant i)t infmtry, and afleruai'ds si-r\ed mi the staff of 
General Josejih ]51ci(imfield. 

After the close of tlu' w.u' he retuined td conunercial 
pursuits, .ukI became enL;,iL;ed in m.unif u'turin;^, his 
enterpiises l)rin_L;in;j, him the (i\\ iiership ( if ,1 numbei' nf 
mills. lie also entered actively intn [)nlitical life', and 
was one of the fi\-e Colonel Patteisons in the Pennsvl- 
\ania cnnfereiice th.it iKimin.ited Andiew hicksdii fm' the 
Presidency. In 183(1 he w.is president nf the Pdectoral 
College; that cast the xote of I'ennsyK.un'a for Martin 
Van Buren. In 1838 his pnsitinn in the militai'}' ser\ice 
brouL;ht him pinminently firwaid in i|uellinL; the liots 
that broke out in I'hiladelphia, and aL^ain in 1844 he \\,is 
active in cjuellini; the dangerous ,mti-Catholic riots in 
that cit>-. 

.At the beginning of tlie Mexican W'.u' he was ap- 
pointctl major-general of volunteers, ;md was in com- 
mantl of a division of the army at the battle of Cerro 
Gordo. .After the defeat of the Mexicans in this engage- 
ment, he letl the cavalr)- and the atlvanceil brigaties of 
infantry in pui'suit of the retreating foe, and entered antl 
took possession of Jalapa. His serxice in this mo\ement 
received lionorable mention in (ieiieral .Scott's olt'icial 
report. .At the close of the w.u' he retinned to Phila- 
delphia antl resumeil control of his liusiness operations, 
his military ser\ices being recognized in his appointment 
by the governor to the command of the militia of Penn- 
sylvania. 

On the outbreak of the War of the Rebellion, Gen- 
eral Patterson ranked as the oldest majiir-general b)^ 
commission in the L'uited .States, ,uid on the Pi'esident's 
call for sevent\--fi\-e thousand men for three months' 
service, April i^, iS^)!, he was mustered into ser\ice as 
major-general of \-olunteers, ami [)laced in command of 
a militarv department comjirised of Penns\^l\-ania, Dela- 
ware, Mar\-Iand, and the District of Columbi.i. In June. 
1861, he had undei' his comm.uul an army ot about 
twenty thousand men. His force was reducetl, ]io\\e\-er, 
b}- requisitions from \\'ashington, and when he crossed 
the Potomac on July 2 he had but about ten thou- 
sand men under his command. .Soon aftt-ruards General 




McDowell athanced into Virginia, and General P<itter- 
son «as sent instructions to defeat or hold in check the 
(Confederate ami)- under General Joseph I'",. Johnston, 
then near Winchester in the .Shenandoah \'alle}\ In 
this he filled ; hihnston hurrving from his front across the 
mount, lin [)asses to Hull Run, which he reached while 
the battle was in progress, and b)- his reinforcement 
to the Confederate forces decided the battle in their 
favor. 

General Patterson was severely censured by man\- for 
this failure. It is now known, however, tliat Johnston's 
force was considerabl)- superior to his in numbers and 
appointments. Patterson claimed tliat liis inacti\it\- was 
due to the failure of General .Scott to send liim orders, 
for which he had been tlirected to wait, and that he was 
kept in suspense and unwarranted ignorance of what 
was taking place at Hull Run. He was mustered out 
of service on the expiration of his commission, July 27, 
1861, and returned to prix'ate lite. 

General Patterson was a ])opular speaker, and one of 
the largest mill-owners in the United States, being in- 
terested also in sugar refineries and cotton plantations. 
He was president of the Hoard of Trustees of Lafa\'ette 
College at the time of his death, wliich took place Au- 
gust 7. 1881. He published in 1865, " Xarrati\e of the 
Campaign in the Shenandoah." His son, Francis K. 
Patterson, brigadier-general of volunteers, took part in 
the Peninsular campaign, and was killed by the acci- 
dental discharge of his o\\ n pistol. Genera! Patterson's 
resilience in Philadelphia, at the south-west corner of 
Locust and Thirteenth Streets, is now occupied by the 
Historical Societv of Penns\-lvania. 



28 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHTA. 




ALEXANDER WILSON. 

Alkxanuek WiLSdX, the famous American ornitliolo- 
gist, was identified during most of his life witli PhiLa- 
delphia, and ma}- be classed among its most notable 
citizens. He was a native of Scotland, born at Paisley, 
in 1766. Here he was taught the trade of weaving, and 
spent fi\e years in apprenticeshi]i at the loom, at which 
his idle habits, due to his born tendency to poetic 
dreaming, won him the title of the " lazy weaver." At 
eighteen he became a pedler, and rambleel about the coun- 
try, poetizing as he went, until a satire upon the \-ices of 
the aristocracy brought him a term of imprisonment. 

This experience disgusted the imaginative \-outh with 
the old world, and he sailed for America, landing at New 
Castle, Delaware, in 1794. From there he made his way 
on foot to Philadelphia, where he soon found emplo)-- 
ment at his trade, and also worked for some time as a 
copper-jjlate printer. ]5ut this mode of life was alien to 
his tastes, and in a little time he resumed his old wan- 
dering life as a pedler, and afterwards set up a school 
in New Jersey, which he conducted for several years. 
I'"inally, after trying his fortunes in a number of other 
places and ways, he returned to Pliiladeljihia, and opeiieil 
a school at Kingsessing, in the southern section of the 
present city, in a small building which is still preserv'ed 
in honor of its famous occu[3ant. 

Fortunately for him, his new school was near the resi- 
dence of William J5artram, the well-known botanist, son 
of the celebrated John Bartram. The neighbors, drawn 
together by their mutual love of Nature, soon became 
intimate friends. Wilson had grown despondent from 
his long struggle with poverty, and his intercourse with 
a congenial mind was \aluable to him at this stage of 
his fortunes. It was suggested to him that drawing 
would be a diversion from his melancholy thoughts. He 



adopted the suggestion, began drawing, and then paint- 
ing, the birds of the neighborhood, and was quickly led 
into a stud\- of their habits. This was the turning-point 
in his career. He had tlrifted into his true vocation of 
an ornithologist. 

As he inipro\-etl in his powers of reproducing birtls 
and in his knowledge of their habits, new hopes and 
ideas came to him. He determined to publish the or- 
nithology of Penns\-lvania ; possibl\- of the whole United 
States. This was a most ambitious scheme for a self- 
taught artist. It wiiukl need a small fortune merely for 
the engraving of the plates, antl fortune was what he 
most lacked. Yet circumstances favored him. He ob- 
tained a position as editor, at a good salar}", and his 
employer, Samuel I''. Bradford, recognizing the value of 
his work, undertook to publish it. Mr. Lawton, from 
whom the suggestion to stud\- tlrawing had first come, 
engraxed the plates. 

Wilson b\- this time had gathered a large amount of 
material for this work. In 1804 he had set out on foot 
on an excursion through the forested wilderness of west- 
ern Penns},-l\'ania and New York as far as the P'alls of 
Niagara, obtaining and painting new birds as he went. 
This close contact with Natiu'e also aroused his poetic 
susceptibilities, and he wrote a poem called " The For- 
esters," describing, in li\el)- and graphic language, his 
extended journey. 

The first volume of the " < )rnithology" was brought 
out in 1 80S. Wilson then started on a journe\- through 
the country general!)-, with the double purpose of pro- 
curing subscribers to iiis costly work and of adding 
new drawings to his collection. P'rom this time on the 
work progressed rapidly. In 18 13 the "Ornithology" 
reached its seventh \-olumc. But the excessive labor 
which the collection and preparation of his drawings 
required hatl b\- this time exhausted his vitality, and he 
died in I. Si 3, when but fort)--seven years of age. 

Wilson's admirable work marks an era in ornitho- 
logical science. The pictures of birds had been drawn 
by him with the greatest care and exactness from origi- 
nal specimens, and the world of birds had never before 
been so faithfull\- reproduced. It was the jjioneer in 
this field of art, and gave the suggestion to the later 
magnificent works of Audubon and Bonaparte, which 
have left nothing to be desired in the delineation of 
American birds. "He was the first," .says Jardine, "who 
studied the birds of North America in their natural 
abodes and from real observation, and his work will 
remain an ever-to-be-admitted testimony of enthusiasm 
and perseverance, one certainly unrivalled in description." 
Two more volumes of the work came out after Wilson's 
death, from materials left behiiul him, and in 1S33 an ex- 
cellent continuation was published by Charles Bonaparte, 
in four volumes. 



MAKERS 01' PIIILADI-.LPHIA. 



29 



FIJ K. PRICR. 

Yaa K. Price, one of the most eminent of Philadeljihia 
lawyers during nearly the whole of the present centur\-, 
was born in 1797, in Chester County, PennsyKani.i, within 
a short distance of the field of the Battle of the Hrand\-- 
wiiie. He was descended from Welsh settlers who came 
to this countr\- in 1682 and settled in that district. The 
first inclination of the N'ouhl;' man, after obtiiinini; an edu- 
cation in the P'riends' School, was towards a mercantile 
life, and he entered for this purpose the ship[)in<.,r-house 
of Thomas P. Cope. Peing naturall)' studious, how- 
c\'er, he soon left this situation, with the pm'ijose of 
entering upon a professional life, and entered the law- 
office of John Sergeant, at that time one of the leading 
lawyers of Philadelphia. 'Po this branch of study he 
applied himself diligenth', and was admitteil to the bar 
in 1823. This was the beginning of a \er)- long term of 
legal service. 

Mr. Price earl)- showed himself to be deepl_\- grounded 
in the principles of law, and quickl\' attained a \er}' 
high position in the Phihulelphia courts, which he held 
until his death. Plis inclinations led him towards the 
study of the law of real estate, and in this field of practice 
he attained great eminence, being long considered the 
leading authorit)" upon all questions relating to this 
branch of law. His knowledge of this subject is shown 
in his \aluable work entitled " Law of Limitation and 
Liens against Real Estate," and in the Act of Assembly 
of 1853 named "An Act relating to the sale and con- 
veyance of real estate," the framing and passage of 
which were so fulK' his work that it is common])' known 
among the legal fraternit)- as the " Price ..Act." 

Mr. Price did not confine himself to his piofession, 
but hekl a number of public positions, and diil \aluahle 
service for the cit)- of his adoption. In 1S45 and 184S 
he represented Philadelphia on tiie State Kexcnue lioard, 
and from 1S54 to 1856 was a member of the State Senate, 
being elected to the latter office as an independent candi- 
date, and defeating the regular part)- candidates. At 
that time the cit)- of Philadelphia was still embraced 
within the limits laid out b)- William Penn, and around 
it had grown up a number of boroughs, townships, and 
districts, most of them liirectl)- continuous with the cit)', 
yet with their own local govei-nments and officials. It 
was very desirable that the whole of these should be 
incorporated with the city, and Mr. Price had sought an 



^^^ '%\ 




election largely w ilh the purpose of bringing this to pass. 
In this he succeeded. The "Consolidation Act" of 1854 
was chiell)- due to his energ)- and grasp of the situation. 
Man)- other acts passed during his term of service in the 
Senate were drafteti 1))- him. 

On the formation of the Paik Commission in 1867, 
Mr. Price was placed upon its board, and continued there 
until his death. Pie was also one of the trustees of the 
University of Penns)-l\ania, \'ice-President of the Amer- 
ican Philosophical Societ)-, president of the board of the 
L^nixersit)' Hospital and of the Numismatic and Anti- 
quarian Society, anil was connected with other institu- 
tions. In all these institutions he took an active interest, 
and de\-oted much time to their affairs. He was also 
active as an author, the field of his labors covering vari- 
oirs phases of political, social, and n)oral econoni)-. His 
legal works ha\e been mentioned. He wrote also a 
" History of the Consolidation of Phiiadel])hia," and 
sexeral treatises which were read before the Philosoph- 
ical Society, and afterwards j)ublisheil. These include 
"The 'Prial b)- Jur)," "The I'aniil)- as an l^lement of 
Cio\-ernment," "Some Phases of Modern Philosoph)-," 
" The Glacial Epochs," " Sylviculture," etc. These trea- 
tises show deep research and fine intellectual ])ower. His 
later years were much given to literar)- pursuits, the bent 
of his mind tuining towards religious themes. He died 
November 16, 1884, after a service at the bar continuing 
for more than si.xt)' years. 



30 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




MATTHIAS VV. BALDWIN. 

The founder of tlic celebrated liialdwin Locomotive 
W'cuks, now the greatest establishment of its kind in the 
world, was a nati\-e of Klizabethtnw n, New Jersc_\-, where 
he was born December lo, 1795. He was aj)prenticed 
to a jeweller, and in 1S17 entered the ser\ice of Fletcher 
& Gardner, jewelry manuficturei's oi Philadelphia. In 
l<Si9 lie set up for himself in this business, which in 1825 
he clianged for the manuficture of bookbinders' tools and 
CN'linders for calico printing. It was while thus engaged 
th.it Mr. Baldwin's inventive facult}' was first manifested 
in the construction of an engine .suitable f )r a small fac- 
tor)', where space needed to be economi/.etl. This was 
an upright engine, anti was so excellently constructed 
that it pro\ed capable of performing much more work 
than had been expected of it, and was still in use at the 
lime (if his death. With this success, Mr. Baklwin's 
career of good fortune began. The manufacture of 
engines of this character became [jrominent in the busi- 
ness of the firm, and Mr. Mason, his p.utuer, with- 
drawing, Mr. Baldwin continued the business alone. 

While this was going on, the in\'ention of a practicable 
steam locomotive had been made in h.ngland, and in 
1829-1830 the idea of railroad locomotion became promi- 
nent in America. Several English locomotives had been 
brought to this country, and Mr. Baldwin built for Peale's 
Museum a miniature locomotive, w hich was comjileted in 
April, I 83 I, and set running on a track made of pine cov- 
ered with hoop-iron, in the museum rooms. It drew two 
small cars, holding four persons, coal being used as fuel. 

This was Mr. Baldwin's first venture in locomoti\'e 
building, in which his works were afterwards to become 
so famous. Its success brought him an order for a loco- 
motive from the Philadelphia and Germantown Railroad 
Company. It was no ea.sy^ task. Mechanics had to be 



taught the new art, and tools suitable for the work to be 
made. But he allowed no obstacles to discourage him, 
and went acti\'el\- to work, improving on the plans of 
his museum model from the examination of an Knglish 
locomotive imported for the Camden and Amboy Rail- 
road Compan)-. His shop was then on Lodge Alley, 
and here his first locomotive, the famous " Old Iron- 
sides," was completed. Its trial took place November 
23, 1832. It was only five tons in weight, and pnived 
too light to move on the rails with a loaded train in wet 
weather, and it was therefore advertised to start daily 
" ivlicii tlic 1^'catlicr is fair, with a train of passenger cars. 
On raiiiv litiys iiorscs will />c attacJicdy 

The " Old Ironsides" proved capable, under favoring 
circumstances, of running at a speed of thirty miles an 
hour with the usual train, Diu'ing 1834 he constructed 
five locomoti\'es, his career in this new industry being 
thus fairly begun. In 1835, finding that new quarters 
were necessary to accommodate his increased business, 
he moved his shojj from Lodge Alle}' to Broad and 
Hamilton .Streets, and erected the first of those buildings 
w hich now cover squares of ground in that vicinity. 

The jxmic of 1 836-1 837 embarrassed Mr. Baldwin in 
his business, but his creditors dealt with him lenientl)-, 
and in five vears he had paid all his debts, though the 
business troubles anil the starting of rival locomotive 
works interfered seriouslv with hi.^ profits. In 1842 he 
overcame a difficult}- which had hitherto existed in the 
turning of railroad ciu'ves, b_v the invention of his 
" fle.xible-truck locomotive." a device which proved so 
useful that it gave the Baldwin Locomotive an advantage 
which was long maintained. The business now steadily 
increased v'car after year, and became great during the Civil 
War, — one hundred and thirty locomotives being built in 
the year 1 864. This seemed immense at that time, but the 
works have increaseil till they now have the enormous 
capacit)- of one thousand locomotives a \-ear, while the 
total number built has been more than thirteen thousand. 
The original five-ton locomotive has been replaced b)- 
monster engines, some of wliich weigh seventy-six tons. 

Mr. Baldwin was one of the original members of the 
Franklin Institute, and served for eight years as its vice- 
president. He was a member of the American Philo- 
sophical Societ}- and of the Horticultural Society, of 
which he was president from 1858 to 1863. He was 
one of the board of directors of the Academ\- of I-"ine 
Arts, and a member of the Musical Fund Societv'. He 
served in the T837 Con\-ention to amend the Constitution 
of Pennsv'lvania, and became a member of the State Legis- 
lature in 1853. He was an earnest and consistent Chris- 
tian, contributed liberally to the building of churches, 
and was notetl for his charities in other directions. He 
died September 7, 1866, after a life spent in useful labor 
and eood works. 



.UAK/'RS OF PIIlI.Aniil.ririA. 



31 



SAMUEL G. MORTON, M.H. 

Dr. Morton, born in Pliiladcljjliia in 1799, was a son 
of Gcofi^c Morton, who IkuI cini^i'alrd to /Xnicrica fi'oni 
Clonnicl, Iicl.uul, and cnijancd in nu'i\:antiU- pursuits in 
Philadelphia. The son e-.irly in hfr ni.uiifcstod ,1 ])assion- 
atc h)\-L' of books and thiist for knowk'd^c, toj^etiicr uitll 
nu-lhodical and ])crsL'\ ciinL; liabits of industry, (inidu- 
atinL; from the L'ni\ersit\- of I'enns)l\ .nii.i in Al.ircli, 
1820, he ])roceeded to Kdinbur^^h, and entered tiie l'?ii- 
versit_\' of that city the same \'ear. Here he Lcradiiated 
in 1823, and returned to Amerit.i the next _\-eai-. In 
1826 lie bc!4"an his practice as a phj-sician, and in 1827 
married Rebecca G. Pearsall, the daughter of lii;.4hly- 
respected members of the .Sdcietv nf lM'ien<fs. lie 
rose rapidl)- to lucratixe pr.ictice in his pinfessi. .n, ,ind 
in 1859 became Professor of .Xn.ituniy at tin- I'einisyl- 
vania Medical CoUei^e, which chair he rel.nned till 

Mis fame, ho\\e\"er, came not fiom his caiier in med- 
icine, ijut from his acti\e l.ibois as a scientist, which 
extended throui;'h the latter h.df (if his hfe. I lis first 
scientific essa)- was " ( )bser\ations on Corniiie, a New 
Alkaloid," publi>he(J in 1826. This was followed in 1827 
b\' a communication to the Ac,ulem\' of N.itural .Sciences, 
entitled " .\n Analysis of Tabular Spar, etc.," the- fust of 
a Ioul; succession of commiuiications which continuetl to 
appear in the Procccdiiii:;s of the .\c.ulemy till the time 
of his death, llis contributions to this scientific journal 
numl)er about lort_\-, all of much scientific wihie, while 
other papers were publishetl by the .\meiican I'lnlosciph- 
ical .Societ)' anil in the Auicriiaii Joiiiiial i>f SiicncL aiiii 
Arts. His communications cox'cred a wide ran^c of 
.scientific subjects, embracing questions of anatonn-, etli- 
noloi^ry^ arch;eolog\', geolog)', zoolog)', mineralogy, etc., 
and indicate a great versatility of talent and range of 
scientific pursuit.s. Among the most import.ant of them 
was his celebrated monograph on the " Cretaceous Group 
of the United States," which was received with high 
favor by the most eminent European geologists. 

The great work of his life, however, was his stud\- of 
craniology, antl the c(jllection of his celebrated cabinet of 
skulls. This, which is now in possession of the Acad- 
emy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, embraces 1468 
specimens, gathered fi-om all parts of the worKl, and is 
of unequalled \alue. The storj- of his Labors in this di- 
rection was given to the world in 1839, in his "Crania 
Americana, a Comparati\'e View of the Skulls of \arioLrs 
Aboriginal Nations of North and South America." This 
notable work was received with tlie profoundest appre- 
ciation b)- the scientific world, and was highly lauded 
by Humboldt and other eminent scientists. It was suc- 
ceeded by " Crania Kgyptica," w hich cliciteil like fa\'or- 




able connneiil. No such ,itteni[)t had e\er been made 
befoi'i- to indicate the cranial characteristics of a great 
tli\'ision of the human family. 

Dr. Morion did not cease his publications with these 
works. Me wrote se\eral other treatises on race peculi- 
arities, huni.ui anatonn-, etc., and pubiishet! a catalogue 
of llu' slxuUs of man and the lower animals in his collec- 
tion. .Some of his \iews were startling to the scientific 
\\(irld, not yet prepared to accept the doctrine of the 
gieat anti(|uit_\' ol man. lie beliexed that fossil men 
Would yit be tound as low down as the ICoccne period 
of geology, .ind that the I'aces of mankind were plural 
in their origin. In December, 1849, Dr. Morton was 
elected President of the Acadeni)- of Natural Sciences, 
and rem, lined in that office till his death, in Ma_\- 1851. 

In the annals of science the name of Morton will 
alwa\s be .associated with that of Hlumenbach, with 
whom the study of human craniograpln- began. This 
study was greatly de\eloped in his hands, in his demon- 
stration of the precision of method with which it should 
be conducted, antl its capability of throwing light on the 
origin and affiliations of human races. Nott and Glid- 
tlon's ■' r\pes of Mankind" was to some extent based on 
his researches, but tliis work gives no just idea of the 
modest, impaitial. aiul thoroughly scientific sjiirit with 
which his inquiries were contlucted. 

Of Dr. Morton's sons, two rose into prominence: James 
.Saint Cl.iir Morton entered the I'.ngineer Corps of the 
United States Ami)-, served bravely in the Civil War, 
rose to be brigadier-general, and was killed in an assault 
on Petersburg in 1864. Thomas George Morton has 
become justK* distinguished as one of the most skilful 
surgeons in this country. 



32 



^LIKERS OF rillLADELPlIIA. 




OLIVER EVANS. 

TiiK sul)jccl (if i>ur prc-^cnt sketch, unc of the most 
acti\-e and able of earl)- American in\entors, was a native 
of Newport, Delaware, where he A\as b<irn in 1755, a de- 
scendant I if the Rev. Y.\7\w E\'ans. His mechanical turn 
I if mind was earh' displa}-ed, and by the age of twenty- 
two he had invented machines to replace hand work in the 
making of wool-cards. In 17S2, with two of his brothers, 
he put up a flour-mill near New Castle, Delaware. At 
that time the process of making flour was a very crude 
affair, and \'oung Evans tiuickh' de\ ised a series of labor- 
cr>ntri\'ances which, after nuicli oppositinn, were in the 
sa\ing end almost universally adoptetl. They are still in 
use, with little change. These inxenticms were mainly 
directed to the saving of labor in the transporting of the 
grain and flour from one part of the mill to another, 
during the various processes of manufactiu'e. 

Ivwans's mill machiner}' are the most \'aluable of his 
inventions, though he is much better known as the in- 
ventor of the high-pressure engine, and from his per- 
sistent efforts to ha\x- his in\ention brought into general 
use. As eai'h" as 1772, when but seventeen \'ears of 
age, he had speculateil mi " some means of propelling 
land-carriages without animal pciwer." His attention 
was turned towards the e.\pansi\e furce of steam, and he 
saw in it a source of power which, at that time, he per- 
ceived no means of utilizing. .\t a later date he met 
with a description of the atmospheric steam-engine, and 
learned, to his surprise, that in this the steam was used 
merely to produce a vacuum, while atmospheric pressure 



mo\-ed the piston. This he believed to be a wrong con- 
ception of the proper use of steam, and mentally de- 
veloped the idea of a high-pressure engine, which he 
at once set himself to work to make practicable. He 
also experimented on the propulsion of land-carriages 
and boats by steam-power, and endeavored to procure 
patents giving him e-\clusi\e privileges in this direc- 
tion. 

After \-ears of experiments, his high-pressure engine 
was first put practically to work on Market Street, Phila- 
delphia, in the winter of 1802, its dut_\- being the sawing 
of stone with a gang of twelve saws. In 1S04 he con- 
structed a steam-dredge for the Philadelphia Board of 
Health. This apparatus was mounted on wheels, which 
were turned b)' belts from its engine. In this way it 
moved through the streets to the Schuylkill River, a 
mile and a half away. When launched, a paddle-wheel 
was rigged at its stern, and it propelled itself down 
stream to the Delaware, and up that stream, against a 
head-wind, back to Philadelphia. 

E\ans was successful in the wide introduction of his 
mill machiner}', and man}- of his steam-engines were 
built for manufacturing and steamboat use; but the early 
dream (if his life — the constiaiction of a steam-carriage 
for common turnpike roads — -he never realized. He 
made a model engine that would run several hundred 
)'ards, but failed to obtain the financial aid necessaiy to 
further experiments, and was obliged to give them up. 
Yet he has the credit of being a very early, if not the 
earliest, projector of steam-locomotion. One of his high- 
pressure engines was early used in the Philadelphia 
Water-Works at Centre Square, and in 18 17 one was 
placed in the Fairmount Water- Works. 

In 1795 Mr. Evans published "The Young Mill- 
wright's and Miller's Guide," which reached a fourteenth 
edition in 1853. He published also an " luigineer's 
Gui(.le." ]5(ith these works, despite their subsequent sale, 
impoverished their author for the time being. In 1807 he 
began business as an iron-founder and steam-engineer, 
opening the Mars Works, at the junction of \'ine Street 
and the Ridge Road, Philadelphia, and seems to have 
done a good business at this location. In 1808 he suc- 
ceeded in having his patents for mill machinery extended 
for fourteen j^ears, though he found great difficulty in 
collecting ro)'alties from mill-owners. 

E^N'ans died of apoplex}- in New York, April 15, 1819. 
Four da\-s before the Mars Works had been destroyed 
by an incentliar_\- fire, the news of which he heard just 
before his death, and which, perhaps, was its cause. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



33 



WILLIAM RAWI.H. 

TllK R.iwU; family of riiihulclplii.i hail its I'lrsl rcprc- 
scntati\c in I'rancis Rawlc, a member of tlic Society of 
I""i'ienils, \\h(>, to esca[)e rclii^ioiis jiersecutioii, cmiLjratcd 
in i6,S6 from Cornwall, where liis ancestors Iiad been 
seated for many i4enerations. lie landed at rhihulel|)liia 
with his son Francis, and settled in I'lymouth Town- 
ship (now in Montgomery County), on a lai'gc tract 
of land which tlie\- had purchased from William I'enn. 
The son settled in Philadelphia, where he i|uickl)' rose 
to prominence, held man\' impoitant offices, judicial, 
legislative, and adniinistrati\e, and wrote se\eral works 
in the line of political economy. 

William Rawle, the subject of this sketch, the grcat- 
great-grandsoii of the elder h'rancis, was born in I'hila- 
tlelphia in 1759, and received his earl_\- education at the 
h'riends' iVcademy. On the e\acuation of the cit\- by 
the British troops in 177S, he accompanied his step- 
father, Samuel Shoemaker, a loyalist refugee, to New 
\'ork, where he continued his education and began the 
stud\- of law under Attorney-General Kempe. lie went 
to London in 1 78 1, continued his legal studies in the 
Temple, and, after travelling on the continent of Europe, 
returned to Philadelphia in 17S3. In September of that 
yeai' he was admitted to practice at the Philadelphia bar, 
where he rapidh- rose to prominence, in time becoming 
one of the foremost lawyers in the countr)-. He had a 
large practice, and ranked in his profession with Lewis, 
Tilghman, Ingersoll, and Dallas, and, later, with Hinney 
and Sergeant, men who made the name ot the Philadel- 
phia lawyer a proverb for learning and abilit)'. In 1791 
he was appointed by Presiilent Washington the Attorney 
of the United States for Pennsx'lvania, an<_l held this office 
until after the close of Washington's ailministration. B}- 
direction of the President, Mi'. R.iwle. in 1794, accom- 
panied the United States District Juilge and the military 
forces on the western expedition to sup]M-ess the " Whis- 
ke)- Insurrection." It became his duty to prosecute the 
offenders in this as well as in the insurrection of 179S. 

Mr. Rawle was a member of most of the literary and 
learned societies of Philadelphia, among them the "So- 
ciety for Political Inquiries," founded by l-'r.mklin. and 
which held its weekly meetings at his house. Polilicall>- 
he was a decided Federalist, and became a personal friend 
of Washington, who in 1792 offered him the judgeship j 
of the United States District Ci>urt for IVniisylvania, | 
which he declined. Me had been elected in 17X9 a 
member of the General Assembl)' of IVnnsyK .uiia, i)ut 
his distaste for political life was such that he positively 
declined a renomination. He also declined the position 
of President-Judge of the District Court of Philadelphia. 

For many years he was the attorne\- and counsel for 
the Bank of the United Stales, and a trustee of the Uni- 
versity of Pennsylvania. In iSji.on the incorporation 




of the Law .\cadem_\' of Philadelphi.i, he was chosen its 
\ice-presidenl. In 1S22 he was made Chancellor of the 
Associatetl Members of the B.ir of Philadelphia, anti in 
I<S27, when this societ\- united \\ith the Law Libraiy 
Comjjany of Philadelphia, under the name of the Law 
Association of PhikKlelijhia, he became chancellor of the 
new institution, and held the office until his death. He 
was one of the founders, in 1824, of the Historical .So- 
ciet\- of Penns\-Kania, and its president from that time 
till his tleath. In 1830 he was a])pointed one of the 
commissioners to re\ise the Ci\il Code of Pennsylvania, 
ami was the chief author of the reports of the commis- 
sion, the \aluable results of whose labors are embodied 
in still existing statutes. 

Besides various addresses before learned societies, some 
ofwhicli ha\e been publishetl, Mr. Rawle was the author 
of " A View of the Constitution of the United States" 
(1825), which for nearl)' forty j'cars was the chief author- 
it)- on that subject. He recei\ed the honorary degree of 
LL.D. from Princeton College in 1827 and from Dart- 
mouth College in 1828. He died April 12, 1 836. 

His son, William Raw le. Junior, was born in Philadel- 
])hia, July 19, 178S. lie was educated at Princeton Col- 
lege, and was admitted to the Philadelphia bar in 1810. 
During the War of 1812 he saw some service as captain 
of the Second rroo]j, Philadelphia Citv Cavalrj-. In the 
practice of the law, he attained a reputation but little in- 
ferior to thiit of his father. In association with Thomas 
Sergeant, he ])ul)lished seventeen volumes of reports of 
decisions of the .Supreme Court of PennsyKania (" Ser- 
geant and Rawle's Reports"), and, as sole reporter, five 
more \i)lumes ("Rawle's Reports"). He served for four 
)-ears as President of the Common Council of Philadel- 
phia, and was a member of many learned bodies. He 
died August 9, 1858. 



34 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JUDGE JOEL B. SUTHERLAND. 

Joel Barlow Sutherland was born in Gloucester 
Count)-, New Jerse\-, in 1791, being descended from 
Scotch ancestors, wIk) liad settled in that colony earh- 
in the eighteenth centur\-. \\'hile he was still quite 
}-oung, his father remo\-ed to Philadelphia and took up 
his residence in the District of Southwark. Here the 
boy obtained a common school education, which he fol- 
lowed u[) by the stutK' of medicine in the office of the 
celebrated Dr. Benjamin Rush, one of whose fav^orite 
pupils he became. He attended lectures at the onh- 
medical college of that time, that of the L'ni\ersity of 
Pennsylvania, from which he graduated with honor. 
His first service in his profession was as Assistant Sur- 
geon to the Junior Artillerists, a compau)- of \-OLmg 
men organized in Philadelphia, to which he was ap- 
pointed early in the War of 181 2. In 1S14 he was 
transferred to the line, and appointed by General Snyder 
lieutenant-colonel of rifles in the State militia. In 
1 8 16- 17 he served as physician to the quarantine station 
on the Delaware, then known as the Lazaretto. 

This was the eml of Mr. .Sutherland's career as a 
physician. His political career began in 1813, when he 
was elected to the Pennsj-lvania Legislature. His service 



in this bod\- extended from 181 ; to 1816, anc 



ain from 



1821 to 1827, and included terms in both branches. For 
a time he officiated as Speaker of the Senate, and during 
this period had the honor of welcoming to the capital 
of Pennsylvania the illustrious Lafaj'ette. He also as 
Speaker gave the casting vote on the bill for chartering 
Jefferson Medical College, thus aiding to establish one 
of the foremost schools of medicine in this countrv. 

While in the Legislature, Dr. Sutherland began the 
study of the law, and was, after his admission to the bar, 
appointed deput\- prosecuting attorne\- for the count}' 



of Philadelphia. In 1S27 he was admitted to practice 
in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and in 1833 was 
appointed Associate Judge of the Court of Common 
Pleas of Philadelphia. His rapid progress in the legal 
profession, howexer, tlid not interfere with his career as 
a legislator. In 1827 he was elected to Congress, and 
served in that body for ten j-ears, being appointed chair- 
man of the Committee on Commerce, then, as now, one 
of the chief committees of the House. Here, while a 
strong advocate of the principles of his party, the Demo- 
cratic, he had the general welfare of the countr}- particu- 
larly at heart, and served efficiently and faithfully as a 
legislator. The lighthouse s)-stem of our ocean and 
inland waters, and the river and harbor inijirovements, 
were under his care and protection, and in both of these 
national establishments great advances were made. New 
lighthouses were erected, and the s\-stem greath- elabo- 
rated and improxed. Of the harbor improvements due 
to his foresight and energ)^ ma\- be particularly men- 
tioned the Delaware Breakwater, for which in 1835 he 
secured an appropriation of SiOO,000. This life- and 
ship-sa\ing station remains as a lasting monument to 
ludge Sutherland's public spirit and interest in the devel- 
opment of the commerce of Philadeliihia. His attention 
to the best interests of Philadelphia was also shown 
in his labors for the adwancement of the Xavy-Yard 
at Philadelphia, the largest and most important in the 
country, which was situated in his congressional district. 
The men-of-war built and equipped here were such as 
the nation at that time had reason to be proud of. Judge 
Sutherland was one of the first advocates of the ten-hour 
s\-stem, and through his influence President Jackson was 
induced to direct the Secretar\- of the Navy to put it in 
force at the Phil.idelphia Na\-)'-Yard. 

He was an ardent supporter of President Jackson, 
during whose administration his name was urged at 
one time for the office of Secretar\- of the Treasury'. 
At a later date this office was tendered him by President 
Tyler, but was declined. Of the later events of his life 
it may be mentioned that in 1853 he called a convention 
of the Defenders of the War of 18 12, at Washington, 
antl in 1854 organized the general Society of the VV'ar 
of 1812, of which he became the first president. He 
also exerted himself successfully in obtaining pensions 
for disabled members of this Societ\-, whose claims had 
long been ignored by the government. 

Judge Sutherland was the author of parliamentary 
manuals which were adopted by Congress and the Penn- 
s)-lvania Legislature. Although a member of the Demo- 
cr.ilic part}-, he was ahva}'S a strong advocate of the 
policy of protection. He died November 15, 1861. The 
late Hon. Charles O'Neill, who knevv him intimatel}-, 
said that he was " one of the most liberal-minded men 
that ever li\ed." 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



35 



AI.liXANDHR B1;NS0N. 

Ali:\am)i;k Hknsdn was born in lialtiniorc, Marylaiui, 
November 21, 1794. aiul was educated at Brown's Semi- 
nary in tlial city, fidin w liich he graduated at an ear!)- 
ai^e witli sucii his^h lionors that he was complimented 
b\' beinsf crownetl witli laurel on Commencement-da_\\ 
1 le became associateil with his father in a dry-^oods 
business, carried on in Philadelphia under the firm name 
of Richard Benson iv Son. This L,n-aduall_\- mertjed into 
tlic carjjct trade. Subse(|uentl\' he entered into the 
bankinij and brokerat^c business at No. 2 South Third 
Street, the firm bein;^ first nametl Buekman & Benson, 
and after the withdrawal of .Mr. liuckman as .Alexander 
Benson & Co., a \'ounLjer l)rother beint; now associated 
with him. He continued in this business for about fifty 
j'cars, retirin<( from it on Jamiar\- i, 186.S. DuriiiL^ these 
years he had established a record fir indomitable industr)' 
and energ\- and the hitjhest intet;rit\-. For a lonj;' time 
he was a member of the standing committee of the 
Board of l^rokers, and at the time of his death was the 
.second oldest member of the .Stock ICxciiange. 

As a far-secniL^ banker and financier, Mr. Benson had 
few or no equals in I'lnlatlelphia. His judj^ment was 
considered almost imerriny, and he was fiequentU- con- 
.sulted by those who desiretl prudent and trust)' aiKice 
in matters of finance. Jn his own business he was \-er\- 
successful, perhaj:)s from confinintj it to strict!}' let^itimate 
lines of action and a\'oiding alluring but dangerous spec- 
ulations, or entering into gigantic operations which, while 
promising millions, might entl in ruin. 

Politically he was for nian\' \ears a member of tlie 
Whig party, but on the dying out of this \\,\x\.\ his 
political principles led him into the I'anks of the newly 
formed Republican organization, of which he continuetl 
an earnest member, supporting P'remont in the [)resi- 
dentiai campaign of 1856, Lincoln in those of i860 ami 
1864, anil (irant in that of 1868. His interest in politics 
was alwa)'s warm, but he axoidetl taking any acti\-e [)art 




in a contest, and neither sought office nor would ac- 
cept it when tendered him, preferring the ease and quiet 
of liome to the excitement of political place, it being 
his fixed opinion that " the post of honor is the private 
station." 

During the Civil War he was a patriotic and out- 
s[)oken supporter of the Union, and contributed freely 
of his means to the sujjport of the imperilled govern- 
ment. After a life of active business effort and high 
moral standing, he died Maj- 13, 1 870, leaving behind 
him an einiable record for honor and integrity. Pie was 
borne to his last resting-place in the Woodlands by tlie 
leading bank jjiesidents of Philadelphia, many of them 
his life-long frieiuls, and most of wiiom had benefited 
b\' his well-consiilereil advice. He was married on 
April 7, 1824, to Sarah North, daughter of Lieutenant- 
Colonel Caleb North, of the Revolutionan' Arm\', wlio 
at one time had served as High Sheriff of Philadelphia, 
and was an honored member of the Society of the Cin- 
cinnati. 



36 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




COLONEL JAMHS PAGE. 

L\Mi:s Pace, for many years (Hie of the best known of 
Pliiladelphians, vvas born in Philadelpiiia, March 8, 1795. 
At the age of fourteen he began the study of law in the 
office of Peter A. l-irowne, but on the outbreak of the 
war with Great l^ritain he joined the arni\- as a pri\ate, 
enlisting in the State Fencibles, a compan\- tlien formed 
and untler the command of Ca[)tain Clement C. Bitldle. 
The company was mustered into the L'nited States ser- 
vice in 18 14, but did not enter into active service, and was 
mustered out in 1815. 

After the war Mr. Page resumed his law studies, and 
was admitted to the bar RLarch 16, l8l('). He entered 
acti\-ely upon the duties of his profession, and continued 
to practise law for man\- \'ears. While thus engaged at 
the bar, he played a conspicuous part in jjublic affairs, and 
became verj- popular among the citizens of Philadelphia. 
He was a Democrat in politics, and exercised consider- 
able influence in the councils of his part)-. His interest 
in military matters had continued after the war, and in 
1S19 he became captain of the State E"encibles, the onl\- 
surviving company out of many that had been organized 
during the war. This company is still in existence, and 
after the City Troop of Philadelphia, whose organization 
dates back to the Revolution, claims to be the oldest 
military organization in this countr_\- which has kept 
strictly militar)' in its piu'poses and has not been con- 
verted into a social club. Colonel Page cimtinued to 
serve as its captain until the breaking out of the Civil 
War, a period of more than forty }-ears. During this 
time his services were called into active recpiisition on 
more than one occasion to suppress riots that broke out 



in the cit_\-. In the Kensington riots of 1S44 the State 
I'encibles was one of the companies called out for their 
suppression, and lost several men in its attempts to dis- 
perse the rioters, who fired upon them with a cannon 
which they had obtained. He also took part with the 
compan\' in the Buckshot war, a State riot. In October, 
1830, the State Fencibles joined in a nn'litary parade in 
honor of the French Revolution of that date, and were 
presented with a tri-colored flag, which Colonel Page re- 
ceived with appropriate remarks. He acted as one of .the 
pall-bearers of lohn Ouincy Adams, when his bod\' was 
brought to this city in 1S48 and was received with a 
solemn and impressive ceremony. In 1831, on the visit 
of Kossuth to Philadelphia, Colonel Page led the State 
Fencibles in the parade in his honor, and presented to him 
a hanilsome gold medal on behalf of a number of the 
company. In 1823 Captain Page was elected major, and 
soon afterwards colonel, of the Second Regiment Penn- 
sylvania Volunteers, and later was made colonel of the 
First Regiment, the One Hundred and Eighth of the 
line. 

At the outbreak of the Ci\il War, the State E"encibles 
volunteered in the thiee months' service, and Colonel 
Page, being then sixt\'-six x'ears of age, resigned the cap- 
taincy to a younger man. Ele kept up the organization 
during the war b\' the aid of j'oung recruits. After its 
end and the return of the sur\'ivors, the compans' was re- 
organized as a volunteer corps, and Colonel Page con- 
tinued associated with it as commander of its Old Guard, 
made up of the older members. He was also president 
cif the organization. The armory of the State Fencibles 
contains a memorial window in his honor, presented by 
Miss Elmily Schomburg, his niece, and a noted American 
beauty. 

During the period which we have rapidly passed 
over. Colonel Page served in a number of official posi- 
tions. He was postmaster of Philadeljihia from 1833 
to 1S41. During the }-ears 1842-1844 he served as 
County Treasurer, and from 1846 to 1849 filled the 
position of Collector of Customs for this port. He 
also served as a member and as President of Com- 
mon Council, and from 1866 to 1868 was a member of 
Select Council fVom the E'ifth Ward. He died April 6, 
1875. 
' Colonel Page was a man of great personal attractions, 
and among his accomplishments must be mentioned his 
remarkable skill as a skater. When he was seventy )'ears 
of age he continued wonderfuU}' proficient in his evolu- 
tions on the ice. He was a prominent member of the 
Masonic order. The James Page Librar_\-, of Philadel- 
phia, was given its name in his honor. 



MAK/'RS Of' I'liri.Anill.rHIA. 



37 



NATHANIEL CHAPMAN. M.H. 

A NATIVE of \'irL;ini;i, fmni i>iu- df u hdsc Ijcst tainilies 
lie was descended, Di'. Clia|)niaii made I'liiladelpliia the 
scene of his life's labors, and did the greatest honor to 
his adopted city by his ability and eminence as a physi- 
cian, lie was horn in I'airfix Count)-, V'irj^inia, in 17S0, 
the ancient estate of his famil\-. on tin- I'otnmac l\i\er, 
still remaining in their possession. At se\entcen ye.irs 
of age he began the stuily of medicine undei' pii\ate in- 
struction at Georgetown and Alexandria, and afterwards 
entered the Uni\-ersit\- of Penns_\-K-ania, from which he 
graduated in 1 801. He entered into practice in Thila- 
delphia in 1804. In acklition to his L'ni\crsit_\' coLU'se, 
Dr. Chapman had been a pri\ate pupil of Dr. Benjamin 
Rush, who became warmh' attached to him, antl pre- 
dicted for him a brilliant career. He showed his abilit_\- 
at this early period b}' writing as his graduating thesis 
a \al Liable paper on hydrophobia, in which he abl)' de- 
fended certain \iews of Dr. Rush w hich hatl been se\x'rel\- 
assailed. 

The interval between his graduation anil the begiiuiing 
of his practice was spent in study abroad, first in London, 
where he was a private pupil <^f the celebrated Aberneth}-, 
and afterwards in Edinburgh, whose school had been 
for a long time the leading medical institution in Europe, 
and for many )-ears had attracted most of the .\mcrican 
ph\'sicians \\\\ci wished to study abroatl. Un retiu'ning 
to Philadelphia and entering into ])ractice. Dr. Chap- 
man's success was rajjid and great. He hatl a thoi'ough 
knowledge of his subject, and is credited with winning 
manners and an elocpience of speech, mingled with a 
ready wit and a genialit)' of tlisjjosition, which did much 
to aid his progress. .\s a practitioner, his reputation 
grew to surpass that of awx other [jhysici.ui of his 
period. 

In the \-ear of the conum-ncement of his juactice his 
career as a teacher began in a pri\ate course in obstet- 
rics, which soon became popular among students. His 
lectures gave such prominence to this ])re\'iously neg- 
lected branch of medical science that the Uni\-ersity 
established a chair in Obstetrics, to wliich Dr. James, Dr. 
Chapman's associate, was aj)pointed. In 1813, on the 



death of Dr. Rush, Dr. Chapman's official connection 
with the L'ni\ersit)- liegan, he being elected to the chair 
of Materia Medica, which had become vacant in conse- 
(lueiice of the death of 1 )|-. Rush. His occupanc)- of 
this chair was signalized b)- the a])pearance of his well- 
known work, " l^lements of Thera])eutics and Materia 
Medica," which was e\'er\-where acknowletlged as the 
l.)est work e.xtant upon the sul.)ject. 

In 1816, on the death of Dr. Marlon, he was elected 
to the professorship of the Practice and Institutes and 
Clinic. d Medicine. It was in this chair that his superior 
knowleilgeof metlical science and ])owers as a lecturer 
most cle.irly manifested themseKes. He continued to 
occupy it to the da\- of his death (July 1, 1853), during 
which period his fine powers of oratory and ]5rofound 
leaining raisetl him to an eminence which no medical 
lecturer at home or abi'oad surpassed. His mind had 
been cultivated in other directions than that of medicine, 
and he was able to throw side-lights of illustration upon 
his themes that ga\e interest to the driest subjects. 

In the cholera epidemic of 1832, Dr. Chapman had 
charge of one of the cit\- cholera hospitals, locatetl at 
Twelfth and l.ocust .Streets. At an earlier period, in 
1820, during ;i severe epidemic of \-ellow fever in Phila- 
delphia, he, with Dr. Hewson, took charge of the "\'ellow 
Eever Hospital of the cit\-. In both these situations his 
services were woiihy of the highest praise. In atklition 
to the duties mentioned, he for a long period gase clinical 
lectures in the llosjiital of the Philadelj)liia Almshouse, 
and for nearl_\- twenly-fi\e \'ears ga\e a sunnner course 
in the Philailelphia Medical Institute. This institution, 
which was founiietl 1)\' Dr. "Chapman in 1817, is the oldest 
of its kind in the L'nited .States. 

He frequently occupied the post of President of the 
Philadelphia Medical -Society, and became the successor 
to Duponceau in the presidency of the American Philo- 
sophical Societ}-, which high honor he held at the time 
of his death. In adtlition he was a corresponding mem- 
ber of man\- of the learned societies of Europe. In 
addition to the luetlical work n.unetl. he published a 
volume of " .Select Speeches, P'orensic and Parliament- 
ary," and for many years edited the Philadiiphia Journal 
of the Medical and Physical Sciences. 



38 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




LOUIS A. GODEY. 

Louis Antonie Godev, well known in I'hiladelphia for 
many years as the publisher of Gui/i-v's Lndr's Ihiok, so 
long a fuciritc household \isitor, was a nati\'e of New 
York, in which city he was born in 1804. He was edu- 
cated in the New York schools, and for a number of 
years kept there a book-store and ciixulating librar\-. 
He came to Pliiladelphia about 1830, and in Jul_\- <>f that 
year issued the first number of Godrr's Lth/v's Jlook, the 
first and most successful magazine of its kind e\'er pub- 
lished in the United States. 

At the date mentioned the population of this country 
was but one-fifth of what it is now-, and the difficulty of 
tlistributiug literature \er\' much greater. The railroad 
had just come into existence, and the modes of travel 
and mail-carriage were by post, packet-boat, and canal. 
Yet, despite these hindrances, the new magazine rapidly 
attained a circulation which then seemed enormous, it 
increasing till it reached what was looked upon as the 
phenomenal number oi one hundred and fift\- thousand 
a month. This growth in circulation was in ci msiderable 
part due to its colored fashion-[)lates, a no\el feature at 
that time, and one which gave it great popularity among 
its lady patrons. 

The magazine had been given and long maintained a 
high literary tone, numbering among its contributors such 



well-known writers as Bayard Taylor, Oliver Wendell 
Holmes, James T. Field, Henry \V. Longfellow, Edgar 
A. Poc, Linma W'illaril, L\-dia H. Sigourney, Eliza 
Leslie, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Frances Sargent Osgood, 
Marion Harland, and man\- others, most of whom came 
into the literar\- arena after the establishment of this 
magazine, and contributed their early efforts to its pages. 
For a long time (iodiy's Lady's Book and Graliaiii's Maga- 
zine divided the magazine-reading public of America 
largely between them, and made Philadelphia the centre 
of high-grade periodical literature, the favorite maga- 
zines of the present day only coming into being at a 
later date. As one characteristic of the Lady's F>ook, 
we ma_\- repeat the remark of j\Ir. Godey on retiring 
from its management, that during his long connection 
with the magazine not an immoral thought or profane 
word had been admitted to its pages. 

In 1836 Mr. Gode\- published a literarj' weekly known 
as the Saturday News, in associati<:)n with Joseph C. Neal 
and Morton McMichael, under the firm name of L. A. 
Godey & Co. This paper was eventually merged into 
the Saturday Evening Post. He was also one of the 
original proprietors of .\rthiir s Home Magazine, a j)eri- 
odical which has done noble work in the advocacy of 
reform. It was started in 1852 and bought out by Mr. 
Arthur in 1867. In addition to these, Mr. Godey also 
published at inter\als the Daily Chronicle, Jarzns's Musical 
Library, and the Young People's Book. He continued to 
edit and publish the Lady's Book with, great success luitil 
1877, when, in consequence of increasing years and family 
berea\-ements, he sold it out to a stock compan_\-, and 
retired with a large fortune, which had been made en- 
tirel)' fr( ini his publications. At his death, which took 
place No\-ember 29, 187S, he left his heirs a f )rtune of 
over a million dollars. 

After his retirement the popularity of the Laify's Book 
rapidl)- declined, and death, illness, or family troubles 
seemed the fate of all who were associated with it. This 
period of depression continued till 1883, when it began 
to grow again under the enterprise of its then publisher. 

' Recently it has fallen into the hands of a new company ; 
its publishing office has been removed to New York, and 
the character of the magazine changed to bring it more 
into confornnty with mi)ilern ideas and tastes in magazine 

1 literature. 



M.IKHRS OF PHILADIiLPIIIA. 



39 



Jul IN WHI.Sll. 

Iiiiix \\'ki.~ii, so \\i(U'ly kmiun for his wiluahlc services 
ill connection witli the Centennial lCx])osition, was born 
ill Philatlelphia, Xo\eml>er 9, 1S05. His father, of the 
same name, was a merchant of l'hila(leli)hia, a Une of 
business which he was liimself to follow. lie recei\-ed 
a collegiate education, but did not graduate, and started, 
in 1834, a mercantile business of his own, which he con- 
ducted alone until 1S74. In that \ear he entered into 
partnership with his brothers in the West India tr.ide. 
His business had been successful under his own control, 
and continued so under the later firm, of which Mr. Welsh 
was senior partner at the time of his death, in 1886. 

For many \-ears Mr. Welsh worketi activeh' in the 
service of the cit_\-, devoting his time and means lai'gely 
to this public tint)-. After ser\-ing as a member of .Select 
Council, he was appointed on tin; Sinking l-'und Com- 
mission, on which he continued lor twenty \-ears. He 
served the University of PennsyKania, of w hich he was a 
patr(.)n,as trustee for the same length of time, .ind tor fifteen 
j-ears was president of the I'hil.ulelphia Hoard of Trade 
and of the Merchants' Fund. The Episcopal Hospital 
owed much to him, he being its largest contributor. 
and one of its founders. In 186^ he was .ippointed 
Commissioner of I'airmomit I'.irk, and worked acti\'el_\' 
for the development of this admirable pleasure ground. 

During the Civil W.ir Mr. Welsh ga\e freel\- of his 
time and money in measures of public relief, and was 
president of the e.xecutixe committee of the Sanitar\- 
Fair, that strikingly successful enterprise through which 
more than Si, 000,000 was raised for the benefit of ;n-m\- 
hospitals and the ambulance ser\ice. Mr. \\\lsh, how- 
ever, is best known as presi<Ient of the Centennial Hoard 
of Finance, to which he was elected in 1873, and in 
which his energy and business ability w ent fir towards 
making the Fxposition of 1876 ;i success. The \alue of 
his labors in this responsible and arduous position was so 
pronounced, that the city eventually rewarded him with 
a gold medal and a present of S50,000. The latter, with 
creditable generosity, he useii to endow a ])rofessorship 
of English Literature, known as the John Welsh chair, . 
in the Universit)- of PennsyKania. | 

Politicall)- Mr Welsh was an active adherent of the 
Republican party, and in 18-S was appointetl United 
States Minister to England. He filletl this high position 
with abilit)-, but resigned at the end of two _\-ears. In 
1878 he was honored with the degree of I.L.I), by the 
Uni\ ersity of Peniis\-l\ania, and received the same degree 
from the Wa■^llin<non and Lee College in 1880. Besides 




these academic honors, many foreign decorations were 
bestowetl n|)on him for his courtesy towards foreign 
commissioners during the Centennial exhibition. His 
death, as above statetl, took place in 1886, on April lOth. 
Since that date the city of Philadeliihia has honored his 
menioi\- by a noble memorial, known as the John Welsh 
Memori.il l'"ountain, which occupies the central space of 
the former main building of the Centennial exhibition. 
It takes the form of a magnificent stone basin, with a 
beautiful group of fountain jets in its interior, and is sur- 
rounded in summer with a broad expanse of decorative 
gardening, occu]n'ing the centre of the "concourse" 
which now embraces the space of the main Centennial 
eilifice. 

Williiun Welsh, brother of John, also i)layed a part 
worths- of mention in the annals of Philadelphia. He 
was born in 1810, became a merciiant, and died in 1878, 
after occupying many public positions in his native city, 
and gaining a reputation as a philantliro[)ist. .Among 
his public duties were those of president of the Hoard 
of Trusts, director of (iirard College, and trustee of 
Wills Hospital. His ])hilanthropic services were vari- 

I ous, chief among them being his service on the Indian 
Peace Commission during President Grant's administra- 
tion. This position he resigned in consequence of ob- 
structions by the Indian Hureau. For .several years he 
published the Xoitli Aiiicruaii and the P/ii/iuh-l/'liia 
Gazette, his purpose being an endeavor to elevate the 
morals of the daily press. He published papers on 

! se\eral subjects relating to church charities. 



40 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JOSHPH PANCOAST, M.D. 

Joseph Paxcoast, one of the leading phjsicians of 
Philadelphia during most of the present centur\-, was 
bom in Burlington County. New Jersey, November 23, 
1805. He matriculated in the medical school of the 
University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 
1828, and immediately entered upon the practice of his 
profession in this cit\'. Having determined to make 
surgerj- his special field of practice, he began teaching 
it, in connection with practical anatomy, in 1831, and in 
1834 was appointed one of the physicians of the Phila- 
delphia Hospital. Shortly afterwards he was elected 
physician-in-chief to the Children's Hospital in the insti- 
tution just named, and from 1S38 to 1845 served as one 
of the \isiting surgeons to this hospital. 

F"rom this time forward most of his life was spent in 
professorships. In 1838 he was appointed Professor of 
Surgerv' in the Jefferson Medical College, and in 1841 
was chosen Professor of Anatom\- in the same institution, 
which chair he filled till 1874, when he resigned it in 
favor of his son. Dr. William H. Pancoast. During this 
interval he had ser\ed from 1854 to 1864 as one of the 
surgeons of the Pennsylvania Hospital, resigning in the 
latter year. His period of service in Jefferson College 
continued thirty-si.\ \-ears, during which he occupied 



successively two of its most important chairs. Upon his 
final retirement he was chosen Emeritus Professor of 
Anatomy, in token of the esteem in which the trustees 
held him for his long and distinguished service. 

Within the period of Dr. Pancoast's professional service 
the science of medicine made great progress, a progress 
with which he kept pace in his practice and teachings, 
while his close connection with the leading medical and 
philosophical associations kept him in touch with all 
advances in thought and practice among American phy- 
sicians. In addition to his practical duties as a physician 
and professor, he was active, also, as a writer, and his 
fame is due as well to his works of medical literature as 
to his notable success in surgical practice. 

His earliest literar\- effort which calls for remark was 
a translation of a Latin work by J. F. Lobstein, entitled 
" A Treatise on the Structure, Functions, and Diseases 
of the Human Sympathetic Nerve." To this he added 
notes. In 1844 he published a work called " A Treatise 
on Operative Surger}." This he revised and enlarged 
on the publication of a third edition iu 1852. During 
the period between the first and third editions several 
thousand copies were sold. In 1844 he remodelled Dr. 
Caspar Wistar's valuable work entitled " A System of 
Anatomy for the Use of Students." Other works edited 
by him were " Laennec on the Great Sympathetic Nerve," 
"The Cerebro-Spinal System in Man," and " Quaire's 
Anatomical Plates." In addition to these works, he 
contributed abundantly to the Aiiicricati Journal of the 
Midical Si'u/uis, the Anitricnn Medial/ Intilligcnccr, and 
the Medical Examiner, and published a number of mono- 
graphs on pathological and surgical topics. 

Dr. Pancoast's wide-spread reputation was largely 
based on his remarkable and daring surgical operations, 
many of them of a kind which no surgeon before him 
had ventured to perform. In many instances he saved 
life, where death appeared inevitable, b\- a boldness and 
success in operations which astonished the profession ; 
while he deN-ised safe methods and convenient appliances 
which greatly decreased the suffering incident to sur- 
gical practice. No man of his day did more to advance 
the science of healing than himself, and he won a high 
rank among the leaders of American medical practice. 
He died in Philadelphia, March 7, 1882. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



41 



HDWIN FORREST. 

EinviN FoKKEST, one of the most celebrated of Ameri- 
can tratjedians, was born in riiilatlelpliia in xf^oCi, of 
Scotcli descent on his father's and (lernian on his 
motlier's side. At an earl_\- aije iiis nati\e (h'amatie 
talent displa\-ed itself, antl after a period of amateur 
training he made his ajipearance on tile stage in 1820, 
when but fourteen \'ears of age, in the ch.iracter of 
Douglas, in Home's tragedy of that title. This dibut 
was made at tlie Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia. 
He followed it by a [)rofessional tour through the West 
as a boy actor of high promise, and on his return to the 
East filled engagements in Alban\- antl I'hiladelphia. In 
this early career he gained reputation in the Shake- 
spearian tragedies, and in lSj6, at the age of twent\-, ap- 
peared in the character of Othello at the Park Theatre, 
New York, where his immediate antl great success was 
the foimdation of his long enduring po[iuIarit\-. This 
success was not alone due to his splendiil figure and fine 
native talent for the drama, but came also from se\ere 
study and a fixed determination to occuj))' the foremost 
place on the New York stage. 

In the succeeding years the histrionic ability of the 
young actor ga\e him a standing before American audi- 
ences such as no preceding actor hatl enjo}-e(.l, and the 
dramatists of the countr\- set themscK'es to the produc- 
tion of tragedies suitable to the disjjlay of his powers. 
The principal of these dramas were the Indian play of 
" Aletamora," written by John H. Stone, in which For- 
rest took the title rtSle ; the "Gladiator," of Dr. R. I\I. 
Bird, in which he jjlayetl Spartacus ; and the "Aylmere" 
of R. T. Conrad, in which he [)Ia\-eil liis famous part of 
Jack Cade. In 1835, Forrest, whose fame hail long since 
crossed the ocean, vi.sited England, where he was w.umh' 
received alike by audiences and critics. He visited tint 
conntry again in 1837, and during this visit married Catha- 
rine N. Sinclair, daughter of a ballad singer. 

He made a third visit to that countr\- in 1S45, witli the 
result of violently quarrelling with Macready, who had 
formerly befriended him. The open features of this 
([uarrel were the following, h'orrest appeared as Mac- 
beth before a London audience, and was hissed. A few 
weeks later, at Edinburgh, he stood up in a prisate bo.v 
in the theatre and hissed Macread\-. Tliis injudicious 
proceeding ended his hopes of success in England and 
Scotland, and he retnrned to .America, where a serious 
finale of this event was to take place. Macread}- came 
to New York in I. '^49, and appeared at the Astor Place 
Theatre. Forrest's partisans banded against him here, 
determined to prevent his plax'ing, and the excitement 
entled in a dangerous riot, which caused the death of 
twenty-two men before it could be quelled. The injur)- 
to Forrest's reputation caused b\- this event was added 
to b\- a suit for di\orce b\- his uife, conmienced the same 




\'ear. Mrs. I'orrest had the best of the case, anil a 
divorce was granted her in 1852, with all her legal rights 
and three thousand dollars a year as alimon\'. Forrest's 
conduct through the trial greatly injured his standing in 
public estimation, and he retired from the stage with an 
ample fortune, the result of his man\- \-ears of success. 
His retirement, howe\er, was not final, nor was public 
deprecation injurious to his success as an actor, since 
he reappeared at inter\als afterwards, and plu'ed to the 
largest and most enthusiastic of audiences. Among his 
later im|)ersonations that of King Lear was particularU' 
notable. Later in his life, however, he failed to arouse 
the enthusiasm of his earlier audiences, and, after a long 
struggle against weakness and disease, he made his last 
appearance, at the Boston Globe Theatre, in 1871, in the 
character of Richelieu. Even after this he gave reailings 
from Shakespeare, but these proving unsuccessful, he 
retireil to his home in his native city, where he dietl of 
l)aral\-sis in December, 1872. 

In 1850 he had ]Hn-chased an estate on the Hudson, 
where he built a stone mansion called F"onthill. This was 
afterwards sold for a con\ent, and he made Philadelphia 
his home, jjurchasing a handsome country-seat in its 
\icinit)-, and building a fine mansion at Broad and .Master 
Streets, which is now occupied, with additions, by tiic 
Philadelphia School of Design for Women. His couiitr\-- 
seat was left b\- will to form a home for aged and desti- 
tute actors, with the most of his fortune as an endowment. 
His splendid librar_\-, rich in Shakespearian literature, was 
destroyed b\- a fire in his Philadelphia house in 1873. 
Forrest had unusual powers as a tragedian. His Lear, 
Othello, Coriol.mus, and several other parts were ren- 
dered with a brilliancy that have had few equals. In 
ad*Htion to his powers as an actor, he was an excellent 
dramatic critic, and possessed refined litcrar\- taste. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




ALHXANDHR DALLAS BACHE. 

Alexanoek Dallas Baciie. a great-grandson of Dr. 
Franklin and well known for his long and efficient work 
on the Cciast Sur\-e\', was born in Philadelphia, July 19, 
1 806. His love of learning was shown early in life, 
while his education began at a classical school in Phila- 
delphia, and was continued at the L'nited States Militar\' 
Acadeni)', t<> which he was appointed at the youthful 
age of fi>urtcen. Here he showed such diligence and 
abilit)- in stutly that, though the \-oungest member of 
his class, he graduated at its head in 1825. During his 
four years in this institution he did nut recei\e a single 
demerit mark, which can be said of \er_\' iew stutlents of 
the W'est Point Academy, which is noted for its rigid 
discipline. He was appointed, after his graduation, lieu- 
tenant of engineers, but was retained in the academy 
during the succeetling year as assistant professor of 
engineering. He then became assistant engineer in the 
construction of Fort Adams, Newport, Rhode Island^ 
and here met Miss Nancy C. L'owler, who afterwards 
became his wife. 

In 1828, Mr. Bache was elected to the chair of Natural 
Philosophy and Chemistr\- at the L'ni\ersity of Pennsyl- 
vania, and resigned from the army, his resignation being 
dated June I, 1829. On reaching Philadelphia, he joined 
the I<"ranklin Institute, to whose "Journal" he had already 
contributed, and to which he continued to furnish papers 
at intervals. He made at this time important researches 
in regard to the biu'sting nf boilers and meteorological 
obser\ations, antl published in the " Transactions of the 
American Philosophical Society" papers on wdu.ifile 
researches made by him in plu'sics and chemistiy. 

In 1836 he was intrustetl with the organization of 



Girard College, and became its first president, being sent 
by the trustees to Europe to study the methods of 
instruction and discipline there eniplo\-ed. The report 
which he made on his return proved of much ser\'icc 
to the art of education in this countr\'. The college 
being inifinished ,uid the trustees not read)' to begin 
operations, Professor Bache offered his ser\ices to the cit_\', 
and was made Principal of the High School, and during 
1841-42 ser\ed as superintendent of the public schools, 
whose methods were much improxed under his adminis- 
tration. He also while in Philadelphia established a 
magnetic and meteorological observator}-, which was 
largely supportetl b\- the American Philosophical Societ}-. 
In l8<.)2, his duties as school superintendent being com- 
pleted, he returned to his chair in the Lhiiversity, where 
he remained till 1843, when he was appointed Superin- 
tendent of the Coast Sur\e\'. 

This survey had begun its work in 1817, under the 
charge of F. R. Hassler, whom Mr. Bache succeeded. 
Its operations had hitherto been limited in scope, but it 
rapidly extended under the new administration, and plans 
for wide operations were put into practice. He succeeded 
in convincing Congress of the practical \'alue of the 
Sur\-e\', and was well supported in his operations, which 
also met with the approval of geographers and scientists 
in general. During the Ci\il War he placed the resources 
of the Coast Survey at the disposal of the naval forces, 
much to their assistance, and in 1S63 constructeil the 
defences of Philadelphia against threatened attack from 
the invading Confederates. 

He was one of the incorporators of the Smithsonian 
Institution in 1846, and was annually re-elected by Con- 
gress. During the war he served efficienth- as vice- 
president of the Sanitar)' Commission. He received 
many honors from universities and learned bodies, being 
gi\-cn the degree of LL.D. by the LIniversit\- of New- 
York in 1836, b_\- that of Pennsyhania in 1837, ami by 
Harvard in 185 I. He served as president of the Ameri- 
can Philosophicil Society, of the American Association 
for the Advancement of Science, and of the National 
Academy of Sciences, whose chair he was the first to 
occupy. Many leading foreign societies elected him to 
honorar\- membership, and several foreign medals were 
conferred ujjon him in recognition of the excellence of 
his work on the Coast Survey and in science in general. 
He publishetl numerous papers on scientific and engi- 
neering subjects, and a work entitled "Observations at the 
Magnetic anil Meteorological Observatory at the Girard 
College." He tlied February 17, 1867. His propert}-, 
to the extent of ^42,000, was left to the National Acad- 
emy of Sciences, its income to be devoted to physical 
research. 



3rAk'ERS OF PinLADRLPIHA. 



43 



MORTON McMlUlAi;!.. 

I 111-: niilt.-d I'liihulclpliia jnurnalisl nf wIkhii \\c Iku'c 
now to speak was horn in HurlinL;lon, New Jc-rsc}', Oc- 
tober 2, 1807, aniJ recti \i.;il tlure- liis i-.ii'ly education. 
P.issinj;- tlieiice to tiie L'ni\ ei-,>ity of I'ennsyK ania, he 
made law liis chief stiulx', and was admitted to tin: I'hihl- 
ilei])liia f)ar in iSj-. In tlie \-ear previous to this, ii()\v- 
e\'er, he had fountl liis tiiie \-ocation, the worls to wiiich 
he was best adapted b)- nature, becomiiiL; editor of tile 
Saturday livening Post. In i,S:;i he became editor-in- 
chief of the Satiiritiiy (Duricr, retainiiiL;' this post till 
1836, ill which year he, in association with others, be^an 
the publication of the Saturday .\V:.'.v. In 1 S44. in asso- 
ciation with Joseph C". Xeal, the well-known humorist, 
he began editorial work on the Saturday (iazcttc, and in 
1847 aci-iuiretl part ownership of the Xort/i Anuru-aii, 
the paper with which his name was tlu^nceforth to be 
associated. This journal had, that year, consolidated 
with tlie United States (/acette, and was thereafter known 
under the joint title iAW'ort/i Anieriean and V)tited States 
Gazette. V>\ 1854 he had Ljained sole ownership of this 
paper, which continued under his fostering; care till his 
death. liis pnKlent management and able editorship 
brought it into prominence until it grew to be one of the 
best-known and most innuential journals of the country. 

Mr. McMichael combined his business duties with 
active labors in the service of the city. In his j-ounger 
days he served for sex'eral \x'ars as an alderman, from 
1843 to 1846 was sheriff of the cc)unt_\', and for three 
years, from 1866 to 1869, was mayor of the city. Phila- 
delpliia. howxwer, is most indebted to him in another 
direction, as the leading s|)ii-it in the obtaining of her 
magnificent park, the largest and most beautiful [)eoplc's 
pleasure-ground in the L'nited States. ( )n the organi- 
zation of the Park Commission, in 1867, Mr. .McMichael 
was chosen president of that body, and luld this ])ost till 
his death in 1879. l)Liring tliis perioil the park grew, 
under his intelligent direction, from a sm.dl expanse in 
tlie vicinit}- of the Fainiiount Water-Works into the great 
space now embraced, miles in length aiul breatlth, and 
embracing within its confines not onl\- many pictures(|ue 
hills and dells, but a section miles in length of a broad 
ri\er, and tlie charming v.ille_\- of the Wissaliickon, as 
picturesque in its formation ,is a mountain ra\'ine. The 
eminent services of Mr. McMichael in this direction have 
been fitly lionored 1)\- a handsome broii/.e statue, erecteil 
on one of the most prominent locations of the i)ark. It 
bears the inscri]ition : " An honored and beloved citizen 
of riiiladelphia." 




In 1873 Mr. McMichael served as delegate-at-large 
in the fourth constitutional convention of Peiinsj-lvania. 
lie was frequently requested to deliver [niblic adtlresse.s 
on great occasions, and was an orator of fiiiishetl skill. 
His abilitv in this direction is iiulicated in the words of 
a critic of his speeches: " Prepared or unprejxired, they 
Were alwa\-s finished models." He diet! in Pliiladel])hia, 
Januarv 6, i 879. 

He left sons who fitly succeed liim in ability ami jjublic 
service. His third son, William, born in 1841, enlisted 
as a private in the first troops raised for the suppression 
of the Rebellion. He rapidly rose in station, being pro- 
moted to the rank of captain and aide-de-camp, then to 
that of major, and afterwards to bre\-et colonel. He 
served under Generals Grant, Rosecrans, and Thomas. 
After the war he resumed his law studies, and held in 
time various offices under the government, becoming 
successively Solicitor of Internal Revenue, United States 
Assistant Attornev'-General, and United States District- 
i\ttorne_v for the Eastern District of Pennsvdvania. He 
resigned the last named position in 1875 to enter into 
private practice, and became a member of the New York 
bar. 

Clavton McMichael, the fourth son, born in 1844, 
served in the arm\-. resigning in 1 865, witli tile brevet 
rank of major in the regular army. He afterwards be- 
came associated with his father in the management of 
the newspaper, and after his tleath succeeded him in its 
editorship. In 1882 he was made United States Marshal 
for the District of Columbia, but resigned in 1885. 



44 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JUDGE ROBERT T. CONRAD. 

JunriE CoNKAU, first mayoi- of the consolidated city of 
Philadclpliia, and a dramatic author and orator of abilit)', 
was a native of Phihulclpin'a, in which cit)' he was born 
in iSio. lie was the son of a pubhshcr, wlio liatl him 
educated foi' the bar. His tendency to tlie poetic ih'ama, 
howexer, was strongly declared, and while still a student 
of law he wrote a tragedy, " Conradin of Naples," which 
was produced on the stage and proved highly successful. 
His taste for literary jnu'suits quicklj' led him from the 
practice of the law, and in 1832, no long time after his 
admission to the bar, lie assumed the post of editor of 
the Daily Coiniiiciricil IiitcUigciiccr, a ])aper which he 
afterwards merged intu the Philadelphia Gazette. 

Ill-health interfering with his editorial labors, he relin- 
quished them in 1834 and resumed the practice of the 
law, in which he gained a high reputation as a brilliant 
forensic orator. In 1S35 he entered the political field, 
became a candidate for city recorder, and was elected to 
that office. In a few )'ears afterwards, in 1838, he was 
made judge of the Cc)urt of Criminal .Sessions. His 
service on the bench, however, was not of long continu- 
ance, this particular court being dissolved, and Judge 
ConratI returning to the practice of the law. 

Soon we find him again engaged in literary duties as 
editor of (Jrahain's Magazine, at that time the leading 
literary peiiodical of I'hiladelphia, if imt of the United 
States, its contributors embracing many of the most 
[irominent authors of the country. His term of service 
on this ])eriodical was followed by one on the North 
Aincrieaii newspaper, of which he became associate 
editor. Dining this interval Mr. Conrad again entered 
the field of dramatic authorship, producing his well- 
known blank verse tragedy, entitled " Aylmere, the 
Bondman of Kent," concerning which we ma)' quote 



from R. W. Griswold : " His ' Aylmere' has proved the 
most .successful American drama yet written." This plaj' 
had the good fortime of attracting the attention of Edwin 
Forrest, who purchased from tlie author the sole right 
of production, and made it famous by his masterly im- 
personation of the hero of the play. Jack Cade. At a 
later period in his life Mr. Conrad wrote a third tragedy, 
"The Heretic," but this was never acted or published. 

During the years succeeding those mentioned, Mr. 
Conrad took an acti\'e part in politics, his eloquence and 
effectiveness as a public speaker winning him great influ- 
ence. In 1854, the date in which the old cit\' of Phila- 
delphia was expanded b_\' taking in the outh'ing districts, 
he was taken up as the Whig candidate for mayor, 
against Richard Yaux, the Democratic candidate. At 
that time a \\i^\s secret party had come into existence, 
the " Know Nothing," as it was generally called, or the 
" Native American," to name it from its principles. This 
party supported Conrad for mayor, and carried him to 
election, with a majority of 8500. He was thus the 
first mayor of the new or consolidated Philadelphia, 
which had expandetl from an area of two scjuare miles 
to one of one hundred and twenty-nine square miles, by 
taking in the whole county, with its thickly settled sur- 
rounding districts, its boroughs and rural townships. 

As a mayor, Mr. Conrad strongly advocated the en- 
forcement of the law against Sunday traffic and labor, 
and in particular made a strenuous effort to do away 
with Sunday liquor selling. He took great interest in 
the police service of the cit)', complained in his message 
of the inadequacy of the police force, — 900 men for a 
city of 60,000 houses, — and made it his practice to visit 
the station-hoirses and become personally acipiainted 
with the men. He required that all policemen should 
be of American birth, able to read and write, pure in 
chai'acter and conduct, and always temperate and court- 
eous. In 1856 he was elected Judge of the Court of 
Quarter Sessions. In 1857 he publishetl " A)'lmere, 
the Bondman of Kent, and other Poems," the latter in- 
cluding one on the wrongs of the Indians, and a series 
of sonnets on the Lord's Pra)'er. He dietl June 27, 
1858. His " De\'otional Poems" were published by his 
friend, George H. looker, in 1862. 

In view of the fact of Judge Conrad being elected first 
mayor of the consolitlated city, some remarks about the 
earlier ma)'oralt)' may be of interest. In colonial days 
the mayor was chosen by the city council from its mem- 
bership, and the honor was so little desired that several 
of those chosen preferred to pa)' a fine to serving the city 
in this office. Thus, in 1747, Alderman Taylor was fined 
thirty pounds for refusing to ser\c. Joseph Turner was 
then clecteil, ami on his refirsal was fined an equal sum. 
In 1747 an annual salary of one hundred pounds was vo- 
ted the mayor. We hear of no fiu'ther refusals to serve. 



MAKERS OF rilll.ADl-.LPlIIA. 



45 



JUDGE GF.ORG1-. SIlARSWool). 

AmiiN(. the mail)' al)l(.' iiub^cs w ho ha\i- occupiutl the 
bench of the Siiprt'inc (_'<iurt of l'cnnsyl\-ania, none 
scrx-ed with more disliiiclion or attained L;reater emi- 
nence as a jurist than Geor^^e Sliarsw ood, tlie subject of 
the ])resent sketch. He was horn in I'hiluk-lphia on 
Jul)- 7, 1810, and was educated at the Unisersity of 
Pennsv'lvania, from which he (graduated with the liiijjhest 
honors in 182S. ChoosinL;" law as his jn'ofession, he read 
for several years in the office of Joseph K. lnL;ersoll, ami 
was admitted to the bar in iN:;i, 

For several years he jiractised law before the I'hilailel- 
phia courts, gaining a moderate pi.ictice, anel entering 
witli a degree of energ)Mnto the field of politics, in which 
he gained some prominence as a member of the Whig 
part}'. For se\eral years he served as a member of the 
Cit\- Councils, and in 1837 was elected to the Pennsyl- 
vania House of Representati\-es. I'"rom 1838 to 1841 
he was a member of the Select Council of Philadel])hia, 
and from 1841 to 1843 again served in the House of 
Representati\'es. This emletl his political career. He 
had atiopted free-ti'ade sentiments at variance with the 
opinions of his jxart)-, antl graduallv drilted from its ranks 
into those of the Democracy. ' 

In 1845 his juilicial life began, he being a[)i)ointed in 
that year, by Governor Slumk, an Associate Judge of the 
District Court of Philadelphia. In 1848, on the resig- 
nation of Judge Jones, he was commissioned President- 
Judge of the same court ; and when this position became 
an elective one, in 1850, he was chosen to it b\- the votes 
of the people. He remainetl at the head of the District 
Court until 1867, when he was nominatetl and elected b)' 
the Democratic party Associate Justice of the Supreme 
Court of the State. He took his seat on the Sujjreme 
Bench in 186S, and held the office until 1883, having 
become Chief-Justice, through rot.ition in office, in 1878. 
He had previously serveil for eighteen _\-e,irs — from 1850 
to I 868 — as Professor of Law in the L'ni\ersity of Penn- 
sylvania, resigning this position on t. iking his seat o\\ the 
bench of the Supreme Court. On his resignation from 
the latter, in 1883, lie was honoretl b_\- a bancjuet gi\en 
by the members of the I'hil.ulelphia bar, who paid 
the highest tribute to his judicial abilit)-. He died 
shortly afterwards, in May, 1883, in his .se\enty -.second 
year. 

Throughout his career as a juilge he had manifested a 
legal ability, a mastery of the various branches of the 
law, and a clear jutlgment in judicial decisions, tiiat were 
worthy of the highest praise. His legal knowledge was 




well ilisplayetl in his editions of various luiglish text- 
books of law, including " I^lackstone's Commentaries," 
his eilition of which is acce|)ted as the st.mdard in 
America, and \\\ his editorial work on the America)! l.in^' 
}[a<::;(i:Jiu\ w hich he conducted for three years. In his 
e.irlier legal life he ser\'ed as secretary of a committee 
of stockholders to examine the affairs of the Uniteil 
States B.mk, and issued a rejjort which nia_\- be found in 
Penton's " rhiit\- \'ears' \'ieu." 

luilge .Sharsudod long continued an acti\e author and 
editor of legal works, particularU' during his service as 
Professor of Law in the Universit}-. To the work above 
named we ma\' add his editions of " Hyles on Hills of 
I^xchange," ".Starkie on Lvidence," " Russell on Crimes," 
" Roscoe on Criminal I'^itlence," and " .Smitli on Con- 
tracts." The first named of these was adopted as a text- 
book at H.irxard I'niversity. He also issued editions of 
"Laws of the United States" and "English Common 
Law Re|)orts." These editions rank among the best that 
ha\ e ap])eared. 

.\s a writer of original works, he issued two notable 
books, " Professional P^thics; a Compend of Lectures on 
the .\ims .ukI Duties of the Profession of Law," and 
" Po])ular Lectures on Commercial Law." These were the 
results of his lectures before his class at the Universit}-, 
and ha\-e recei\'ed warm encomiums from the profession, 
with whom Judge .Sharswood's legal writings generally 
enjoy the highest character. In 1870 he issued a later 
compend of his lectures, entitled " Lectures Introductory 
tf) the Stutl\- of Law." 



46 



JirAKHRS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



V 



Si 




JOSHUA B. LIl'I^lNCOTT. 

Jdsiiua BAr.LiXdEK Lii'i'ixcDTT descciulcd from a 
fainil)' bcl(inL;in_L!; to the Society of Friends, his ancestral 
line havin;^ been in this countr\' for six generations pre- 
ceding him. lie was born Marcli i8, i8i3.in the \icinit}- 
of Mt. Holl\-, New Jerse)-, and came to I'hiladelphia at 
the age of ele\'en, his business hfe beginning tlirce years 
afterwards in the line of trade in which he was to become 
distinguished, his emplo}'cr being a bookseller named 
Clarke. 

Young as he was, he applied himself to the business 
with such diligence and intelligence that b)- the time 
he was eighteen he hatl thunnighly mastered its details. 
His industry and capability were well rewarded, for at 
this jimcture Mr. Clarke failed, and the creditors, who 
took the l)usiness into their own hands, showed their 
ajipreciation of the ability and trustworthiness of the 
)-oung employee by requesting him to take charge of it 
as their agent. This he did, and conducted it for about 
five years with so much energy, prudence, and judgment 
as to give entire satisfaction to all concerned. At the 
'^mX of tliis period, having received some financial aid 
from his mother, he began business on his own account 
at Clarke's old stand, the south-west curner of Fourth 
and Race Streets, under the firm name of J. H. Lippin- 
cott & Co. 

The first few years of his business \enture were \-ears 
of financial and industrial panic in the country, but his 
jirLRlence and foresight canied him safely through and 
enabled him to establish himself on a solid basis of pros- 
perity. l'ra)-er-books and Bibles were the .special publi- 
cations of the new firm, and these were produced with a 
taste and finish that created a large demand for them 
from the bookselling public. As the years went on his 



trade greatly increased under his intelligent management, 
and in 1S49 ^^'^ found himself able to buy out the book 
establishment of Gri<jtr, Elliot & Co., then the lartrest 
and most prosperous publishing firm in Philadelphia. 
This was a daring venture. The purchase consumed 
all the capital he had accumulated, and many of his 
friends thought that he was inviting failure by his bold- 
ness. But e\'ents pro\ed that he had not put too much 
trust in his own judgment. The new concern prospered 
and ([uickly ga\-e him the position he had an ambition 
to attain, that of leadership in the book trade of Phila- 
delphia. 

In iS_v_i he atlded a stationery department to his busi- 
ness, and moNctl to new quarters at Fourth and Com- 
merce Streets to accommodate his increasing trade. 
During the succeeding years the prosjjerity of the house 
continued, the publishing department being greatly ex- 
tended, while it gained wide credit for the typographical 
excellence and other features of superiority of its publi- 
cations. There were added to its list two highly-valuable 
works of reference, " Lippincott's Pronouncing Gazetteer 
of the World" and " Lip])incott's Pronouncing Dictionary 
of Biograi)h}' and Al)'tholog\-," works of the greatest 
merit, and prepared at immense expense. In addition to 
these, the house issued wirious other works of reference, 
the increasing demand for which fidl}- pro\es the judg- 
ment and foresight of their projector. Among these 
may be named such important standard publications as 
" Chambers's Flncyclopa-'dia," " Allibone's Dictionary' of 
Authors," and the " United States Dispensatory." The 
" Worcester's Dictionary" series and Prescott's histories 
were acquired, and ,1 luniiber of valuable medical works 
were added to the list of the firm's publications. To 
the ventures of the house must be added " Lippincott's 

i Magazine," whose publication began in 1868, and still 
continues. 

I In 1861-62 was built the commodious store, 715 and 
717 Market .Street, in which the business is now carried 
on, an<,l in 1S71 there was added to this the large fire- 
proof manuficturing de[)artment, extending back to Fil- 
bert Street. 

In 1S45 ;\Ir. Lippincott married Josephine Craige, 
only daughter of Seth Craige, a leading manufacturer 
of Philadelphia. In 1877 he visited Europe, extending 
his journey to the Holy Land, where he contracted 
the S}'rian fe\er. From the effects of this he never 
fully reco\'ered, and by 1S84 his health began serioush' 
to gi\e way. He died Januar\- 5, i886, ha\ing a short 
time pre\iousl\- con\-erted his business into a joint stock- 
company under its present title of " J. B. Lijipincott 
Compan\-." The house continues, under the able man- 
agement of his sons, to rank high among the leading 
publishing and bookselling firms of America, or intleed 
of the world. 



JILIA'ERS OF rinT.ADI-LPIITA. 



47 



MOST R\-\. jAMHS fri;i)i;rk;k wood. 

|a\ii:s I'ri-.df.kick Woni) was burn in I'hil.uklplii.i. 
April 27, i.Sl.v of luiL^lish I'nitcslant parents, his fallicr 
bcini;" a merchant and importer, oriLlinally from Man- 
chester, Kni^land. I lis education was obtaiiH'd in llie 
ijrammar-school attached to the church of St. AIar_\' de 
Crypt, at Ciloucester. where he spent fi\x' years in close 
stud}'. lie afterwai'ds spent some tinu- in a private 
school in I'hiladelpln.i. In iSjj he obtained a .sitiia- ! 
tion as check-clei-k in the hianch Hank of the L'nited 1 
States at Cincinnati, and in 1S33 became pa\'inL;'- and 
receivinL;"-teller in the I'r.inkHii liank of that city, of 
which hank he was maile cashier in 1S3O. The finan- 
cial trainint;' tliiis receixed jiroxed of the L^reatest ad- 
\'antaL;e to him afterwaitls in his l•espon^il)le connection 
with the Church finances. 

iJurin^r this period Mr. Wood's religious \ie\\ s had 
been gratlualK' chanL;in;_;" towartls an acceptance of the 
doctrines of Catholicism, and in 1.S36 he was bajitizetl 
into the Catholic Church b\' Archbishoj.) rurcell. Shorth' 
afterwards he resigned his position as cashier and began 
to study for the priesthood, in which he was to attain 
sucli high distinction. He went to Rome in October, 
1837, spent some months in the Irish College, and then 
began a seven \'ears' course ot stud\' in the College of 
tlic Propagantla. His abilit\- and business knowledge 
quickly became evident to his superiors in this institu- 
tion, and he was appointed to the imijortant ])osition of 
Prefect of Discipline. In this post of duty he showed 
himself eminently fitted, l)_v impartiality, kindness, tact, 
and firmness, for the ruling of men, and at the same time 
controlleti and made life-long friends of the V'oung ecclesi- 
astics under his charge. 

Mr. Wood was ordained priest b_\' Cardinal I'"ian/.oni 
in I S44, and immetliatcK' returned to America, w heie he 
obtained an appointment as assistant rector of the Cathe- 
dral of Cincinnati. After ten years of service in this |)ost 
of dut}-, he was made rector of St. Patrick's Cluu'ch in 
that cit}-. These \-ears of priestlv ser\-ice were signalized 
by exceptional zed and acti\it_\-, in which energ_\- was 
tempered with wise discretion and the finest qualitii's of 
mintl antl heart. The declining health of Hisliop Neu- 
mann, of Philadeli>hia, making the need of a successor 
imminent, the able }-oung ])riest of .St. I'.itrick was re- 
garded as tile best fittetl man for this responsible jiosition, 
antl he was consecrated to the bishopric in 1S57 by Arch- 
bisliop Purcell. Bishops Neumann and Wlielan assisting, 
rile ceremony was an uiiposing one, and was witnessed 
by a large number of tlistinguislied prelates and ,ui im- 
mense congregation. 

Bishop Wood at once entered upon the duties of his 
diocese under the venerable Bishop Neumann, and gax'e 
especial attention to its finances, which he founil in an 
unsatisfactory condition. The Cathedral was unfinished, 




/ 



and its completion hatl become a .source of misgiving, 
while financial aitl was greatl\' needed in other tlirections. 
These deniantls weie (luicklv supplied bv the energetic 
measures of the new pi'elate, and iiumei'ous fresh enter- 
prises were adventured, manv new churches, convents, 
schools, and other in■^titutions being built under his ad- 
ministration. The Cathedral was completed and its parish 
made one of the strongest in the city. When he came to 
l'hil<idel[)liia, all Peniis\-l\-,uiia, Delaware, and West New 
(erse\' formed a single diocese. They have been gradu- 
alK' divided, until now they constitute se\'en dioceses. 

In 1S60 Bisho]) Neumann tiled, and Bishop Wood suc- 
ceeded to the title and full administration. In 1864 he 
was hap|)y in being al)le to dedicate the completed Cathe- 
dral, to whose building he had given all his energy and 
much of his pei'sonal superintendence. He followed this 
work b)- the building of the new seminar)- of St. Charles 
Borromeo, the corner-st(Mie of which was laid in 1866. 
The original diocese of Philadeli)hia gradually grew too 
e.xtensi\'e to be administered 1)\' one man, and was, as 
we ha\-e said, successive!}' divided ; and in 1875 Bishop 
Wood was consecrated archbishop of the new ecclesi- 
astical pio\ince of Philadelphia, with the new dioceses 
under his control as suffragans. He was solemnly in- 
vested with the fiallinin on June 17, 1875, in his Cathe- 
dral, b\- .\rrhbislio]) I5a_vk'_v, of Haltimoi'e. 

During his period of ecclesiastical service lie sc\'eral 
times \isited Rome and took part in ini]5osing ceremonies 
in that cit_\-, attending in 1 86 j the \'atican Council and 
the Jubilee of Pope Pius I.\. In Ajiril, 1882, the silver 
jubilee of his consecration was celebrated with imposing 
ceremonies, in w liich a large number of bisliops and priests 
took part. He died on June 20, I 883, after a long period 
of ill health .uid a life distinguished b\' well-directed in- 
telliLTcnce aiul good works. 



48 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




SAMUEL CULBERTSON HUEY. 

Samuel Cl'lp.ertson Hl'kv, son of Jciliii Grahame 
HuL'V' and Margaret Culbertson, was born in Iiuliana, 
Pennsylvania, on July 21, 1813. He was of Scotch-Irish 
ancestry, and his paternal grandfather died on the battle- 
field of Trenton, in the revulutionai'y struggle. 

In iSj.S he was sent to Pittsburg to finish his studies, 
and in 1.S32 went into actix'c business in th.il city as a 
member of the firm of Baird & Huey. Me was so suc- 
cessful that in 1844 he remo\-ed to Philadelphia, and con- 
tinued to carry on business in both cities until 1857, when_ 
on account of the disturbances connected with the panic 
of that year, he closed up both firms and then devoted 
some years to tra\el. Returning home, he commenced 
the maiHificture of print cloths. 

Meantime, in 1851, he had become a trustee of The 
Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company- of Philadelphia, 
and, after a service of nineteen years in that capacit}-, in 
1870 he was elected its president, and from that time until 
the date of his death devoted himself almost exclusively 
to its interests. When he took charge of its affairs it 
had an accumulated surplus of some $1,250,000. When 
his connection with it ceased through his death in 1886, 
that surplus had increased to over Si 5,000,000. This 
fact alone was a monument to his ability and consci- 
entious attention to duty. AX. a special meeting of the 
Hoard of Trustees of the Company, held I-'ebruary 15, 
1886, a minute, of which the fillowing is an extract, was 
adopted : 

"In the decease of Mr. Huey, who has been acti\'el\- 
connected with the management of the compaiu', first 
as a trustee for nineteen years, and for the last sixteen 
years as its honored president, we have lost an officer 
wh(5se recognized position as a leading representative 
Philadelphia merchant materialK' assisted in obtaining for 



the compan_\- that confidence of the conimunit)- so essen- 
tial to its success, and whose devoted personal atten- 
tion to its acti\'e management for thirty-five j-ears has 
aided in establishing its reputation and securing its great 
prosperity. In his decease the compan\- has lost an in- 
telligent, experienced, upright, and faithful officer, who 
brought to the tlischarge of his onerous duties great 
energy, intelligence, good judgment, and strict integrity 
of character, and the officers and trustees ha\-e lost a 
personal friend endeared to them b\- long and intimate 
association." 

Like expressions of opinion were shown in resolutions 
of the Northern Central Railway Company, Spring Gar- 
den Insurance Compain-, antl man\' other corporations 
with which he was ofificiall}' connected. The insurance 
journals of the countr)- joined in crediting to him the 
preeminence and jM'osperity of his company. 

Mr. Huey was a man of \ery marked characteristics. 
He did not know what fear was, and iiis name was a syn- 
onym f >r truth in wonl antl act. His conscientiousness, 
zeal, and fidelit}' in connection with anything which he 
had in hand were never questioned. He had strong, well- 
decided views and great plans, and awakened confidence 
b\- his (iwn positi\-e coinictions. He was a judicious ad- 
viser, and was alwa}'s read}" to advocate a just cause, even 
though it was at the time an unpopular one; hence, he 
was an abolitionist while a \\'hig, and was one of the first 
members of the Republican part}-. He was deeply inter- 
ested in the issues of the Ci\il War, and was a constant 
contributor to the support of the Union cause; a member 
and supporter of the Sanitary Commission ; one of the 
early members of the Union League, and a stanch advo- 
cate of every one of the great movements of the Repub- 
lican party along the lines of reconstruction of the nation. 
He was a man of fine presence and address, of unusual 
mental abilit}-, and his ad\-ice and counsel were sought 
constantl}- b}- business men anil philanthropic organi- 
zations. 

He was again and agaui solicited to enter political 
life, but always refused, believing that he could exer- 
cise more influence in behalf of the cause to which he 
was de\-oted by his support of measures as a private 
citizen. An effective speaker and writer, his pen and 
voice were always at the service of any good cause, and 
when he died there was a gap left in the ranks of Phila- 
delphia's workers which has never quite been filled. He 
was a devoted Christian, and was a ruling elder in the 
Presb\-terian Church from 1853 until the date of his 
death. He was a generous contributor to all the benev- 
olences of that church. 

Mr. Huey died in Lnterprise, Fla., February 11, 1886, 
and was buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia. 

He left to survive him a son, a member of the bar of 
Philadelphia, and one daughter. 



MAKERS OF rillLADELrillA. 



49 



R(^BHRT HARF. 

RiMSERT Hark, an American clicmist (if high cclcbrit}', 
was bom in Phihulclpliia in I "Si, the son of an ICntjlisli 
emigrant ulio liad carls' cstaljlislicd a lai'gc bicwcry in 
I'hiladclphia. The son for some time took an active i 
interest in this business, but was soon (ii\erte(l from it 
by his fondness for chemistr)-, in which ht; early made 
notable advances. He had attended a coiii'se of lectures 
on chemistry and ph_\'sics, and became a member of the 
Chemical Society of Philadelphia in 1 80 1, before he was 
tw ent_\-. In the same \ear he made a disco\er\' of the 
highest importance, that of the oxylu'drogen bli:)w-pipe, 
bv which a \-er\- intense heat could be produced through 
the combustion of h\"dr(>gen with oxygen. Wx its use 1 
he was able, for the first time, to fuse platinum and 
some other refractory metals. Professor Silliman, who 
experimented with it in 1802-3, named it the " compound 
blow-pipe," and says : " This ai)pai-atus w,is the e.irliest, 
and perhaps the most remarkable, of his original con- 
tributions to science." In honoi- of this inxentioii the 
j\merican AcaiJemy conferi'ed on Mi'. Hare, in 183'^, the 
Rumfonl medal, then first granted, while Yale College 
gave him the honoiai}' title of M.D. in 1806, and Har- 
vai'd in 1816. 

\\\ the Lise of the blow-pipe, niagnesia, lime, iridium, 
and platinum were first rendered Rrsible in any large 
tjuantities. The Drimimonil and calcium lights are h\\\. 
applications of the principle discovered b\- liim. Among 
his other in\-entions is the \'alve-cock or g.illows-screw, 
b)' which communicating ca\ities in separ.ite pieces of : 
apparatus can be connected and made perfectl_\- air-tight. 
He also developed improved forms of the \'oltaic pile, 
and brought into use the intense powers of extended 
series of voltaic cells long befire the)- were used in 
rCurope; and in 1816 produced his calorimotor, a form 
of the galvanic battery by which heat of great intensit)' 
could be generated. An improxed f)i'm of this ap[ja- 
ratus, called the Deflagrator, enabled I'rofessor Silliman 
not onl}' to fuse, but to \'olatilize, carbon, one of the 
most refractor)" of the elements. The first application 
of \-oltaic electricitv to imder-water purposes was made 
in 1 83 I with his batteries and untler his tlirection. 

In addition to these imjjortant results of his inventive 
facult)-. Professor Hare gained a high reputation as a 




chemist, among his discoveries l)eing processes for de- 
n.irciitizing laudanum and detecting minute (piantities of 
opium in solution. In 1818 he was elected to the chair 
of Chemistiy .md Natm-al Philosoph)' in William and 
Mar\' College, ,uid in the same \'ear was made Professor 
of Chemistr\- in the Medical De[5artment of the L'ni\er- 
sit)- of Pennsyl\-,mia. j, This professorship he held till 
1847. He was an excellent instructor in the ph_\-sical 
sciences, his class teachings being marked b\' originalit\- 
of e.x])erinH'nts ,ind ajiparatus, the latter being often of 
unusu.d dimensions. 

Dr. Hare corjtributed numerous treatises to the Auicr- 
ican Jounial of Sin//<i and other periodicals, and pub- 
lished in 1836 " Chemical Apparatus and Manipulations." 
He was a member of the American Academv- of Arts 
and .Sciences, a life member of the Smithsonian Institu- 
tion, and was connected with other societies. In his 
latei- life he began inxestigating spiritualism, and in time 
was brought to a firm belief in the genuineness of its 
claims and phenomena ; the result of his in\-estigations 
being comjirised in a work entitled ".Sjjiritual ^lanifesta- 
tions .Scientificalh- Demonstrated" (1855). ' f^' ''■'■■'' '" 
Philadeljihia May 15, 1858. 

His son, John Innes Clark Hare, a jutlge and legal au- 
thor of Philadelphia, is elsewhere treated in this \-olume. 



50 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




ISAIAH V. WILLIAMSON. 

Isaiah Vansant Willi amsox, one of the most gen- 
erous of the many phiLinthropists of Pliiladelphia, came 
from a famil_\- ol l-'rieiuls, the descendants of Duncan Wil- 
liamson, a Scotchman, who emiyrateil to Penns\-hania 
about 1661, some twenty _\-ears before the landing of Wil- 
liam I'enii, and took up land near the site of the pi'cseiit 
cit\' of Bristol. Mere he established a feiiy across the 
Delaware to where ]?e\'erl)' now stands. This was known 
until recent times as " Dunk's Ferr\-," being so called 
from his local title of " Dunk" Williamson, The parents 
of the subject of our sketch were Mahlon Williamson 
and Charity Vansant, living at Falsington, Rucks County, 
Penns)-l\-ania, where he was born February 3, iSo^ 

His opportunities for education were slight, being con- 
fined to those offered b\- the public school of the district, 
which was open onl_\' tluring the winter months. His 
father was a firmer, but his inclinations turned to mer- 
cantile pursuits, and at the age of thirteen he entered the 
store of Harvc)' Gillingham at Falsington, where he re- 
mained till his majority. Here he acijuired a thorough 
business training, anti practised those habits of strict 
economy as to jiersonal expenditure, ami of carefid in- 
vestment of his surplus funds, which continued through- 
out his life. He came to Philadelphia in the year 1825, on 
the completion of his apprenticeshiii, and entered into 
business for himself opening a retail dr)--goods store on 
Second Street near Pine. Here he remained but a few 
months, and then entered into partnershij) with Willi.uii 
Burton, and mo\'ed his place of business to Second Sti'eet 
and Coombe's Alley. At the end of a year this partner- 
ship ended, and Mr. Williamson bought the store of John 
S. Newdin, No. 9 North .Second Street, where he carried 
on business alone, IP Nelson Borroughs assisting him as 
a clerk. 



Rigid economy was the ride in this establishment, and 
it was the habit of Mr. Williamson and his assistant to 
transport the goods bought at auction in a wheelbarrow 
to his store to save the expense of .cartage. In 1834 he 
took Mr. Burroughs into partnership, and in 1837 retired 
from active business as a merchant. The firm of William- 
son, Burroughs & Clark was then formed, his brother, 
Mahlon Williamson, entering it as an acti\-e member, 
while he remained connected with it as a special partner. 
He hail been so successful during his twehe }X'ars of 
business life, that he withdrew with a fortune of about 
^200,000, and the reputation of being the richest \'oung 
iiKM'chant in I'hil,i(lel|ihia who owed his money to his own 
exertions. After retiring fi'om business he spent about a 
year in Furope, visiting its sexeral countries, including 
Russia, and then returned to Philadelphia, where he 
quickl\- became engaged in those profitable financial 
operations which in time increased his firtune to the 
grand total of about 815,000,000. 

Up to this time Mr. ^\'iIli,mlson hrul been social in his 
habits, but he thenceforward lived in great measure the 
life of a recluse, being accessible only to his few congenial 
frieiuls. For many \'ears he continued this life, diligentl}- 
engagetl in watching the market, and buying and selling 
stocks, bonds, and real estate with such priuleiice, judg- 
ment, and fortune that b}- the time he was seventy 
\-ears of age he had accumulated about 814,000.000. 
The true kindliness and s}-mpathy of his nature now 
became re\'ealed, he beginning a series of liberal gifts to 
h<:ispitals, schools, homes, .iiul other charit.ible and edu- 
cational institutions, to which he continued to add at 
intervals during his life. In 1888 came his greatest and 
most judicious belief iction. ( )n Deceml;)er 1st of that 
year it was announced that he had put into the hands of 
a board of trustees propert)- aggregating in value over 
S2,000,ooo, to be used for the erection and maintenance 
of an institution to be known as the Williamson P'rce 
School of Mechanical Trades, its purpose being to re- 
place the old system of apprenticeship by instructing 
deser\ing bo\'S in ti'ades and maintaining them during 
the time of stud)-. 

Mr. Williamson's total benefictions duiing life amounted 
to about $5,000,000. On his death, which took place 
March 7, 1889, his estate was found to be worth about 
810,000,000, of which he gave about Si, 000,000 b\^ 
will to a considerable number of charitable institutions. 
Since his death the Williamson School of Mechan- 
ical Trades has been established, and is now in full 
tide of successful operation. It is locateil in Delaware 
Count)', about two miles south of Media, and possesses 
a tract of about tw-o hundred acres of land, upon which 
the reijuisite buildings have been erected. A number 
of trades are taught, to which others will be atlded from 
time to time. 



JMKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



51 



HOWARD C. KNIC.HT. ! 

Iu)\v.\Ki) C. KNiiiiir, foiiiKlcr cif the suijar iiii[)iirtini,'' 
and rcfmiii;^ firm <if V.. C. Knight & Conipaii)-, was born 
in (jlouccstcr Count)', New Jersey, December 8, 1813. 
His parents were I'rieiuls, his ancestor, (iiles Knii;ht, 
ha\ini;- C(jme from (iloiicestershire, luiLjland, witli W'il- 
ham I'emi, in the ship "Welcome'," in i6Sj. In 1852 
Mr. KniL;ht came to I'liiiacleljihia, and eiv^a^'ed as clerk 
in tile L;rocciy stoi'e of Atkinson vv Cuthbert, on South 
Street wharf lie remainetl with them for foiu' yeai's, 
and in \'^^/i left them to establish a i;rocery business of 
his o\\n on Second Street. In 1844 he entereil into the 
business of coffee importiiiL;, and bec.unt- a ship-owner; 
and in I S46 removed his business to the establishment 
at the south-east coi'ner of Chestnut and Water .Streets, 
where it has since remained, eni;"aj4e(l at first in the 
wholesale yrocer}', commission, importiuij, and suLi'ar- 
rcfining business, but at present princi[)ally in the last- 
named branch. In 1S41) he became interested to a con- 
siderable extent in the Californi.i trade. 

To Mr. Knitjht belont;"s the credit of desi^jninL^r and 
patentin;^ the sleepin_Lj-car now known as the " I'ullman 
Sleeper." It was while enduring; the discomforts of a 
journc}' to New Orleans, in the cars fitted with rude 
bunks which then ditl cUit)" as sleepers, that he thouL;ht 
out the plans which ha\e chanL;"etl traxellini;- from a tor- 
ture to a comfort. In 1859 he contracted with Murplu- 
& Allison (now tlie .VUison ^ManuficturiuL;^ Company) to 
build a car in acccjrdance with his desi;j;n. This was 
first used on the Baltimore & Ohio Kaihuad, and proved 
a Ljreat success. He secured patents, and the demand 
for his slee[)ers soon became J^i'eat. .\ company was 
organized, which about 1868 sold theii' [),itents to Mr. 
Pullman for some such sum as 52,000,000. 

Mr. Knight's sugar business began early in his mer- 
cantile life. It continued to grow inilil 1851, when he 
took sex'eral partners, the firm name becoming H. C. 
Knight & Co. Its de\-clopment continued, until in 1 88 1 
the immense refining plant ik.iw in use was built on prop- 
erty owned by Mr. Knight on Delaware /\\enue l)etween 
Bainbridgc and South Streets. The buildings here ha\e 
a frontage of two hundred and fifteen feet on Delaware 
Avenue, and run back to Swanson Street, while the large 
storage hoirses extend fi'om Swanson to Penn Streets. 
The establishment is consideretl one of the most complete 
and convenient refineries in this comitry. The machiner\' 
is all of the most modern and a])pro\ed jxitterns, being 
self-acting or automatic, so as greatl)- to reduce the num- 
ber of hands requii'etl, and the conseciLient cost of pro- 
duction. From three huntlred to four hundretl persons 
are emploj'ed in the different de[)artments of the works. 
The building; frontiiiLT on Delaware A\enue contains two 




cojiper ])ans of enormous size, with an estimated capacity 
of one hundred and eighty barrels of sugar each. They 
arc among the largest and finest in the country. The 
filters are on the fifih stor\- of the eIe\en-stor\- building, 
antl are twent_\'-four in lumiber, each haxing a capacit}^ of 
se\'ent\' thoirsand pounds. The (-(uantit)' of bone-black 
(an important factor in sugar refining) in use is about 
tjne million eight lumdred thousand pounds. This is 
purified after each jjroccss, and is used over and o\-cr 
again. The capacit)' of the refining is about fifteen lum- 
dred barrels per day, including granulated and refineil 
sugars. The firm has abundant ship])ing facilities, their 
river frontage being two lumch'ed and fifty feet, on which 
are two piers antl a large shed for storage purposes. 
This, in connection with their warehouses, gives them 
storage room for fift\- thousand bags and two thousand 
hogsheads of sugar. The product of the establishment 
is confined to pure cane sugar, no beet sugar, glucose, or 
chemical products being used. Their trade extends to 
all the larger cities of the L'nited States. 

Mr. Knight was a director of a number of railroads, 
antl President of tlie New Jersey Central and Bound 
Brook road. He was Presitlent of the American Steam- 
ship Company, and director in many financial institutions. 
In i860 he was an elector on the Republican Presiden- 
tial ticket, in 1873 was a member of the Constitutional 
Con\-ention of Penns\-l\ania, and in 1883 was maile a 
member of the Park Commission. He was for years a 
director of the Union League, and was President of tlic 
Bi-Centennial Association of 1 882. Until nearly his 
eightieth \'ear he retained much of his youthful energ)-, 
and might almost daily be seen at the office of the firm. 
He died June 21, 1 892. 



/ 



52 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




HON. WILLIAM n. 



I.HY. 



W'li I I AM 1). Kicf.LKV, Iiiiil; kiiiiwii ,is the .ihkst aiK'o- 
catc of the doctrine of protection in the National Honse 
of Representatives, and also as the " Lather of the 
HoLise," from his senior nienibeiship of that body, 
was a native of I'hikulelphia, in which city he was born 
on A])ril IJ, 1N14. lie was the L;randM>n of Major 
John Kelle\-, an officer in the Rexolntionary War. He 
began life, Imwexer, as a pooi- boy, his lather d\'iny; 
while he w.is a mere child, and lea\in;4 him merel}' his 
own efforts ,md abilities to depend upon. 'lhe>e pro\ed 
sufficient to brin^j hini a successful and hoiioiMble career. 

He was first employed as a readei' in a I'hiladelphia 
printin<:^-office, which position was soon e.\chani;'ed for 
that of apprentice to a jeweler, w hom he serveil for seven 
years. His trade learncLl, he obt.iined a situation in 
l^oston, where he workeil for four _\-ears, from 1835 to 
1859. While there his leisure hours were L;i\-en to stud}-, 
and he stained some reputation as a writer and speaker. 
In the year last named he returned to I'hiladelphia, and 
bet^an the stud}' of law, while his I'eadiness as a public 
speaker and his predilection for politics ipiickl}- brought 
him into the aren;i of ])ublic affairs, llis tendenc}- of 
thought at that time was towaids the piinciples of the 
Democratic party, and in several cam[)aigns he engaged 
as a stump speaker for its candidates. 



In 1S41, Mr. Kellc}- was atlmitted to tlie bar. In this 
profession he (piickl}- rose to a leading position, serving 
the State as Attorney-General in 1845-46, and in the 
latter year becoming Jutlge of the Court of Common 
Pleas of Philadel|)hia, an official position which he held 
for ten }'ears. Duiing this period liis political \iews 
graduall}' ch.uiged, and in 1854 he left the Democratic 
party and joined the Republican, publicly indicating his 
change of views by an address in which he opposed the 
admission of shuery into the Territories. In i860 he 
was taken up as Republican candidate for Representative 
from the Fourth I'hikulelphia tlistrict, and elected to the 
Thirty-seventh Congress. This was the beginning of a 
very long term of service, he being elected to every suc- 
cessive Congress to the time of his (.leath. which occurred 
on J,uuiar\- (;, 1890. L'or thirt}' \'ears, therclore, he 
ser\ ed his countr\- in this capacit}'. 

During that periotl he served as a member on ,dl the 
important committees of the House. He was chairman 
of the Committee on the Centennial Celebration, and, 
after the retirement of Mr. I'lkiiue from the House, was 
chosen chairman of the Committee of Wa}'s anil Means, 
which position he continued to hokl in e\'er}- Congress 
in which the Rei)ul)licans were in the iiKijority. 

In his Congression.il career Judge Kelle}' gained a 
wide-spread reputation for his able and \igorous ath'ocacy 
of the doctrine of protection of American industr}-, of 
which he was for ni.m}- \ears the most ardent and effi- 
cient advocate alike in the House of Representatives and 
on the public platform, sustaining his \-iews with a mul- 
titude of statistics cliawii from all tlcpartments of Ameri- 
cui industry. In his wiile acquaintance with the statis- 
tical details of industrial interests he had few ecjuals, 
and his speeches and published documents upon this sub- 
ject are a mine of infoimation. A \'olume of his speeches 
has been publisheil, which might serve as a library of 
reference of American industrial matters during his term 
of Congressional ser\ice. 

In ,1 lditi<in to the numerous political speeches made 
b\' U'dge Kel!e\', maini}' on the topic of protection, which 
he had made his life stud}-, he published a number of 
addresses on general topics, all marked with the ex- 
actness of argument and abundance of tlemonstration 
which were characteristic of his speeches. In his death 
the cause of jarotection of American industry lost one 
of its ablest and most undexaating advocates. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



53 



I). HAYi-:s a(;ni;w. m d. 

Till-; (lisliiiLJuisIu'd ])hysii:i,m with wlmni \\c have now 
to (leal was boi'ii in I.ancastei' Cminty, I'einisyKania, 
No\-eniber 24, iSiS, the son of Dr. Knliert .\L;new, a 
plu'sician of high repute in that section. His eikication 
began at the Moscow Acaileniy, in Chester County, and 
was continued at Jefferson College. Cannonsburg. Penn- 
sylvania, and at Newark College, Delawai'e, in which a 
relative, Rev. I. H. Agnew, was professor of languages. 
Thence he proceeded to the L'ni\ersity of Pennsylvania, 
from whose medical ilcpartnient he graduated in l83<S. 

Dr. Agnew began the pnictice of his profession in a 
country district, but sliortl)' afteiw.irds removed to Phila- 
delphia, where he (piickl)' gained a lucrative practice. 
He was not long settled in the cit_\- before he began the 
teaching of his favorite l:)r.mch of the profession, gi\'ing 
a course of lectures in the Phikulelphia .School of Anat- 
om\-, on College Avenue. These lectures were continued 
for man\' years, and were so successful in attracting 
students that at the begiiniing of the Ci\il W'ar, Dr. 
Agnew 's class mmiberetl two hundred and si.xty-five 
students, gathered from e\er_v ipiarter of the Union. In 
addition to his duties as a lecturer on aii.itomy, he estab- 
lished the Philadelphia .School of ( )per,iti\e Surger\-, and 
in 1854 was appointed one of the surgeons in the Phila- 
delphia Hospital. In this institution he foinided the 
Pathological Museum, with which for a lime he remained 
connected as curator. 

In 1863 Dr. .\gne\\ became Denionstr.itor of .\natomy 
and assistant lecturer on Clinical .Sm-gery in the medical 
department of the L'ni\ersit\' of PennsyUania, and about 
the same time accejjted a position ,is one of the surgeons 
of Wills ()phthalniic Ilosiiilal. Two \ears afterwartls he 
was elected to a similar jjosition in two other institutions, 
the FennsylvMnia and the ( )rthop,edic Hospitals. The 
year iS/Ofountl him occupying the ch.iir ot ( )per,itive 
.Sin-ger_\- in the L'ni\ ersitv of PennsyUania, and in 1 87 1 
he became Professor of the Principles and Practice of 
Surgery in the same institution. I'o this position he 
afterwards added that of Professor of Clinical Surgery 
in the Uni\'ersit\- Ilospit.d. 

During hi.s long ser\ice in these institutions the repu- 
tation of Dr. Agnew as a surgeon of unusual skill .ind 
abilit\- grew wtirld-wide. In his special tield of surgerv', 
as well as in the capacit\- of a consulting physician, he 
was calleil into m.ui_\- cases of the g|-e,itesl im])ortance. 
and jjarticularly into that of (iener.il (l.u-fiekl, when 
niortall)- wounded b)- an assassin's bullet in July, 1881. 
Dr. Agnew's services in this notable case brought him 




most promiiienll)- before the American public as a sur- 
geon of the \er\- highest standing in the medical pro- 
fession. He was called to W'ashington on July 5th, 
three da)s after the murderous act, and from that time 
until .September 19th, the date of the illustrious \ictim's 
death, he was assiduous in his attention, visiting the 
President twice a week, and keeping in d.iih- communi- 
cation with the i)hysicians immediately in attemlance. 

The surgical ojierations which were performed during 
this ])eriod of long and wearing suspense were all under 
Dr. .\gne\s's immediate super\ision and direction, and his 
well-known delicac}- and skill were strikingly shown in 
his hanilling of the instruments during tliesc \itally im- 
portant operations. The result of this lemarkable case 
lias become matter of histor_\-. The ]xist-morteni exami- 
nation pro\ed that the wound of the President was a 
mortal one, and th.il no liuman care or efficienc)' could 
have sa\e(.l his life. Hut its prolongation over a perioil 
of two months, during which the passions wliicii tlie 
murderous deetl had excited had become calmed, was 
due \ery largel)' to the skill ant! experience of Dr. 
Agnew. 

In addition to his professional labors. Dr. Agnew made 
m.uiN' \,du,ible contributions to the literature of the 
science of nuilicine. Among these ma}- be mentioned 
his works on "Practical .Vnatonn-," "Anatomy in its 
Relations to Medicine and Surger)'," his exhaustive work 
on the " l'rinci])les and Practice of Surgery," and his 
mnnerous contributions on surgery to medical journals. 
He died March JJ. 1893. 



54 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



A- 





THOMAS A. SCOTT. 

Thomas A. Scott, the man to whose rcinarkablc 
[joucrs of inanas^cment the Penns)Kaiiia Central Rail- 
roatl lai'Ljely owed its development int<i leading;" impor- 
tance, w.is hoin in h'ranklin Count}', I'ennsyU ania, in 
1SJ4. His cdiicationai ad\antaL;es were \ery limited, 
lieiiiL; confnied to tilose obtainable at the \ill,iL;e school, 
which he was compelled to lea\'e for the more active 
tluties of life when but ten years oi the <iL;e, in conse- 
quence of the tleath of his fither ,uid his mother's sti'ait- 
eneii circumstances. /\t this \ery youthhil aL;e he was 
obliged to earn tiis livelihood, and occupied in succession 
a mmiber of minor clerical positions, his first step in the 
line of his subsecjuent career in internal State impro\-e- 
nients beinL; taken on Au_L;'ust 1, 1S41, wluii he became 
clerk to the collector of tolls at C'jkunbi.i. In I S47 he 
was transferred to the collector's office in l'hiladel[)hia, 
anil ad\-anced to the position of chief clerk. Three years 
afterwanls, in 1850, he entered the service of the Penn- 
sylvania Railroad Compan\', bein;j; appointed station 
a<^"ent at l)uncans\'ille, then the western terminus of 
the road. Soon afterwards he was made SuiK'rintend- 
ent of the Western Division. 

Mr. Scott's wonderful executive abilit)' had now an 
opportunity to display itself His energ}' was equal to 
his abilil)-, and in time he was raisetl to the post of 
General .Supeiintendent. Ihe road prospered untler his 
efficient manaijenient, many improvements were intro- 
duced, ami its facilities for transportation were L;reatly 
incrcaseil. In 1.S60, on the death of Wm. R. Foster, 
a vice-president of the companv', Mr. Scott was elected 
to succeed him. It was a critical interval in which he 
was called to this new jjost of tlutv. The Rebellion 
was on the point of breakini; out, and the raili'oad 
facilities of the country were to be testetl to a des/ree 



to which they h;id never before been subjected. Mr. 
Scott's executive abilities in the management of the 
road were so well known that at the outbreak of the 
war Governor Curtin called him to his aid, and asked 
llim to take charge of the transportation of the troops 
which were being luu'ried from the North towards the 
National Capital. 

lie began this responsible dut\' without an hour's 
(_lela\- ; h,nl a telegraph wire quickly inticuluced to his 
working room in the cajjitol ;it Ilarrisburg, and from 
there directed the motion of trains under a system so 
perfect that no delay w.is experienced till they reached 
the Maryknul border. I5ut troubles broke out in Halti- 
moi'e; britlges were burnt on the Northern Central road; 
and Mr. Cameron, the .Secretary of War, telegrapheil to 
Mr. Scott, requesting him to take control of this road, 
as the pri>per m.m for this responsible duty. The inde- 
fatigable railroad director accepted the post, hurried to 
Washington, ,md, quickU* perceiving that the only safe 
method (if reaching W.ishington was b\- wa\' of Annaj)- 
olis, he opened a connection with extraordinar)' haste 
b\- way of the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore 
Railro.id, liuilding ,1 branch X'ia Perr\-ville to Annap- 
olis with such despatch that President Lincoln received 
the news of its completion with utter astonishment. 
"Completed!" he exchiimed. "Then, thank ( iod ! we 
are all right again !" 

It being desu'able that Mr. .Scott should have a military 
rank, he was, on May 3, 18O1, appointed colonel of the 
District of C'llumbia \'olunteers, ami on August 1st 
was appointed Assistant Secretar\- of War, being the first 
man to hokl that ])osition. 

Dm'ing much of the sLicceeding period of the war, 
Colonel Scott was incessantly active in controlling the 
transportation of troops, Ijoth in the East and the West, 
his last imi)ort,mt war service being the despatch of 
Howard's and Honker's corps to Chattanooga, which 
was achieved with wonderfid rapidit}', tracks being im- 
provised and ficilities utilized as if by magic. It may 
safely be said that Colonel Scott had much to do with 
the success of the war. 

After this service he retui'Ued to his post in the Pemi- 
syKania Railroail Comp.my, which he fiUetl till 1S74, 
when, on the death of the president of the road, he was 
chosen to fill the \'acanc_v. In acklition to his duties in 
this office, he was concerned in other railroad enterprises, 
chief among them being the Texas and Pacific Railroad, 
w hich umler his control proved a great financial success. 
His health at length gave way under the strain of his 
multifarious duties and restless activity, anil in iS-,S he 
went abroad to recruit. On June i, 1880, his ill health 
continuing, he resigned the presidency, and ilieil May Ji, 
1881, after a career remarkable in the annals of railroad 
manasjement. 



MAKERS OF /'//fLADELPH/A. 



55 



FRANCIS ANTHONY DKliXliL. 
Fkaxcis Antiiow Dkicxia, w.is the dlilcsl son of 
l'"rancis iM.utin 1 )rrXLl, wlio c.inu' to ihc I'nilcd States 
in 1817, from the Austrian 'l"}-n)!. 'I'he stnior Drexel, 
after some )'ears spent in his profession of portrait ])aint- 
in^' in Soutli Anuriea, turned liis attention to linanee, 
and funided the liouse of I )re\el X: C'ouipany in lH:;7. 
I'"ianeis was the eldest of thrt'e sons, Anthony )ose|)ll 
and foseph William i)ein;_; iiis younger lirothers. He 
\\'.is l)oin in Philadelphia, jaiuiary 7, 1.SJ4. The (liscipline 
inijiosed upon his boys hy the I'ounder of the house was 
a severe one, and l)oie fruits in a suceess r.irely e(|ualled 
in the histoi'}' of hankiiiL;". At tln' aL;e of thirteen the 
sui)jeet of this sketch lKL;an his c.ireei' in his father's 
countint:;-i'ooni. ,uid theie dexL'loped .1 iiatui-al aptitude 
for business, that was stren;,4thened by industiious .ippli- 
cation until liis ac(|uirenients wire of the his^hest ordei-. 
His keen discernment ami S(umd judLjnient made itself 
felt in the buildiiiL;" up of the Inin ; and aftei- the dc-ath of 
his fatiier, in 1863, he and his brother, Anthony )., wei'e 
nirt'ad}' known as unusual men and well (|u,dified to 
develop the luisiness on the lines alii.ulv laid down \)y 
its fouui.ler. The affection that bound these bi'others to 
each otliei' dmaiiL; the Ioul; ye.n's they wdrked toL^ether 
and the perfect contideiice the)' reposed in each other's 
judLjment, notwithstandiiiL; some dissjmil.uitii-s o| temper- 
ament, Ljave to their united work results that could hardl)- } 
have been nttainetl b)- iiulividual effort. The \'ount;er 1 
brother was prompt to seek advice h'oui the elder: 
the elder to .rsseiit to the su;_;L;estions of the v'oimLjer. 
I'rancis was of a retiriiiL; nature, notvv ithstandiiiL; Ins 
strt'ny;th of cliaracter. Anthonv had been early trained 
to the outside work of the hrni, while his brother sLiper- 
vised the office and countini;-house. As a consei|ui'nce, 
Anthonv was more often seen amoni;' men ; but his 
l)rothcr's department of the lirm's busiiu-ss was not less 
important than his own. The public history of the lives 
of these brothers is larL;el_v, almost 1,'ntirely, that of the 
house of Dre.vel & Company, a baukin_; fnin that, like 
certain European houses, althouLjh controlled b)- private 
intlivitluals, seemed umk-r their manaLjemeiit more like a 
public institution. W'li.it it h.is bei'ii to I'hiladelphi.i as 
a strenL;tlienin!4' and conservative powti- in business circles, 
it would be difficult to tell : but th.it its power has been 
used wist:ly, and in such a manner that its success might 
cari'v with it the atlv.mt.U'e of others, is show 11 bv the 




exalted esteem in which the charactei's of these brotlicrs 
were luld diuiiiL; their lives and the honor [jaid tlieir 
menioiies .iftei' death. 

In private life. Mr. Drexel was simple, unostentatious, 
kiiully, ami well IovclI. His charities were so great as to 
mark him as a philantiiropist ; but lie sought to avoid 
puljlicitv and to confer his benevolence in such a vvav as 
to give grace to liis act. His life was governed b)- a 
strict and conscientious regard for the precepts of his 
religion. He was ,1 devout Catholic, and found his rule 
of action in tlu- teachings of that Ciiurch. Hew.is ,ui 
intense lover of music, and had great knowledge ol its 
science. 1 lis fivorite instrument was tlie organ, of which 
he was a m.rsti'r. Ik: owned a tine instrument, upon 
w hich it w.is his fivoritt: diversi(m to pla\- the most ele- 
vated .uid scii-ntiHc |)roductions. He was capable of 
directing the most diflu-ull ])t'rformance, and on man_v 
occasions he carried on the musical services at the 
Cathedral. 

l'"ond of a lan.d life, he m.ule himself funiliar with 
the natural historv of trees and (lowers, of birds and 
animals, and devoted much of his leisure time to the 
beautilying of his countr)" liome. He was a discrim- 
inating reader, anil tilled his librarv" witll well-chosen 
books. He died on the 15th da\- of I-"ebruar\-, 18S5. 
Hy his will one tithe of iiis large estate he devoteil to 
charitv. 



56 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




GENHRAL GEORGE B. McCLELEAN. 

Ma|ok-Gf.nkkal Georck Bkintdn McCi.ellan was 
Ixiin in I'hiladclpliia, December ;;, 1S26, and Ljraduated 
IVniii the Military Academy, Jiil\- 1, 1S46. He was 
made Ijrevet second lieutenant nl enLjineers the same 
day, and promoted to second lieutenant April 24. 1S47. 
He ser\ed in the War with Mexico, heini; atlachetl to 
the compan}' of sappers, miners, and pontoniers ; parti- 
cipated in opening the road from Matamoras to Tampico, 
and took part in the siege of Vera Qxw/., battle of Cerro 
Gordo, skirmisli of Amazoc, battles of Contrer.is and 
Cluniibusco, and the assault antl capture of the City of 
Mexico, September 13, 14, l>'^47. He was brevetted first 
lieutenant, August 20, 1S47, for " gallant and meritorious 
conduct in the battles of Contreras and Churubusco," 
and captain, September 8, 184", for "gallant and meri- 
torious conduct in the battle of Molino del Re)-," whicli 
promotion he declined. He was then hrevettetl captain, 
September 13, 1847, for " gall.uit and meritorious con- 
duct in the battle of Chapulte[)ec, Mexico." 

At the close of the Mexican War he was ordei'ed to 
West Point, New York, attachetl to the companx' of 
engineer troops, which part of the time was umler his 
command, and afterwards ser\etl till 1852 as assistant 
engineer in the constructiijn of E'ort Delaware. He was 
then detailed as engineer of an exploring expedition to 
the source of the Red River of Texas ; after w hich he 
was successively chief engineer of the Department of 
Texas, in charge of surve\-s of rivers and harbors on 
the Gulf coast, and engineer for exploration and survey 
of the western dixision of tlie Union Pacific Ivailroad 
through the Cascade Mountains in 1853-54. He was 
promoted captain P'irst Cavalry, March 3, 1855, and was 



detailed as a member of the military commission to the 
"Theatre of Wai- in I'.urope" in 1855-56, liis official 
report being pul)lishcd b\' order of Congress in 1S57, 
embracing his remarks upon the operations in the 
Crimea. He resigned from the arm\-, January 16, 1857, 
to accept the position of chief engineer (if the IlliiKiis 
Central Railroad, of which he was afterwards \ice- 
president. In i860 he became President of the St. 
Louis and Cincinnati Railroad. 

On the outbreak of the Ci\il War, Captain McClellan 
was made major-general of Ohio Vokmteers, and was 
promoted major-general in the I'egular army. May 14, 
1861. He served in the Department of the < )hi(i, and 
was engaged in the action of Rich Mc)untain, \\\>t \'ir- 
ginia, Jul}- 11, 1861, and b_\' a forced march upon the 
enem\''s camp compelletl the surrentler of General Le- 
gram, lul\- 12, i8(ii. I he thanks of Congress were 
votetl him on |ul_\- Kith for " the series of brilliant antl 
decisi\'c \ictoiies" achie\ed b\- his army " on the battle 
fields of West Virginia." 

On August 17th he was called to the command of the 
Division of tlie Potomac, on August 20th to that of the 
Armv of the Potomac, and on November 1st was made 
general-in-chief of the armies of the Unitetl States. He 
participated in the ad\-ance on Manassas, in commantl of 
the Arm\- of the Putomac, and in the \'irginia Peninsular 
campaign, in which he commanded in the siege of York- 
town, tlie occupation of Williamsburg, the battle of E^air 
Oaks, and the Se\en Da_\-s' battles, ending in the change 
of base to the James l\i\cr, Jidy 2, 1862. He afterwards 
was placed in command of the tlefences of Washington, 
and took command of the Army (if the Potomac in the 
Mar_\-land canip.iign, in which he was engaged in the 
battles of South Mountain and Antietam, and the sub- 
sequent march to Warrenton. 

On No\-eniber 7, 1862, he was relie\'ed of his com- 
mand, which he ne\'er again assumed. Wliile still wait- 
ing orders in New \'ork city in 1864, he was nominated 
b}' the Chicago Democi'atic Convention as a candidate 
for President of the L'nitetl States, but was defeatetl in 
the subsequent election b_\- President Lincoln. He re- 
signed fi-om the army on No\'ember 8th, the day of the 
election, and afterwards went to Lurope. After his I'eturn 
in 1868 he resided at Oi'ange, New Jersey, and engaged 
in important engineering works. In 1877 he was elected 
Go\ernor of New Jerse\-. He died at Orange, October 
29, 1S85. 

His literar\- works include a " Manual of Ba_\-onet 
Exercises," translated from the E'rench in 1852, and 
" Personal Memoirs," hfing an account of his own career 
in the Civil War, w hich was published after his death. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



57 



jAY COOKH. 

J.Aiv Co<jKE was born in S.uulusk)-, Ohio, AuLjust lo, 
1 82 1. His father was Hon. TCleuthcros Cooke, a leadint^ 
lawN'cr of that place, antl a nienibcr of Congress from 
1S31 to 1833. Young Cooke entered tlie banking-house 
of E. W. Cku-k & Co., Phikadelpliia, in 1 839. Pie quickly 
became that firm's confulential clerk, receiving a power of 
attorney to sign for them in all niattei's eighteen months 
before he became of age. C)n reaching his majority on 
August 10, 1842, he was ailinitted as a partner in the 
firm, of which he continued to be a member until Jan- 
uary, 185S. Retiring temporaiilv fiom the banking busi- 
ness, he ga\e his time for three \-ears to necrotiatinsr rail- 
way securities and building railways. During this period 
he negotiated the sale of the PennsyKania State Canals. 
While he was of the firm of E. W. Clark & Co., they 
negotiated a large portion of the government loans to 
carry on the Mexican War, ami this combined experience 
served to prepare Mr. Cooke for the far greater work of 
negoti.iting the loans reiiuired for prosecuting the war f )r 
the Union. 

On Januar\- i, 1861, Mr. Cooke resumed the ban]<ing 
business in Philadelphia with Mr. William G. Moorheatl, 
under the firm-name of Ja\' Cooke & Co., with branch 
houses under the same title subsequently established in 
New York and Washington, and a branch in Lontlon in 
connection with Hon. Hugh McCliIIocIi, ex-Secretary of 
the Treasui}-, under the firm-name of Jay Co(.)ke, McCul- 
loch & Co. This inteinational banking business continued 
successfully until the general financial revulsion of 1S73, 
which was the begimiing of a period of general shrinkage 
and liquidation following the inflation of the war period. 
In the liiidst of these adverse general conditicuis, the 
immediate occasion of the suspension of the house of 
Ja)' Cooke & Co. was their attem|it to carry too hea\\' a 
load in connection \sith the ci instruction of the Northern 
Pacific Railroad, one of the most timely and beneficent 
commercial undertakings of the century. With but 
brief dela\', Mr. Cooke, b_\' a few years of acti\ ity along 
financial lines, completel}' restored his fortune. 

Mr. Cooke's reputation aiul place in historj' will be fixed 
mainly b}- his work of successful!)' negotiating the govern- 
ment war-lo;uis. At the outbreak of hostilities in iSf')! 
the National Treasury was enipt}', and the public credit 
so low that it could only borrow money at the rate of 
twehe per cent, per amium. The eiiormoLis eleuKuuls of 
the war immediatel\- tlwarfed into insignificance all pre- 
vious American exjieriences. anil all ordinar)- instriunen- 
talities in the way of raising money. The needs of the 
Treasury for military cxpenditiu'e speetliK' reached one 
million dollars dail}', and before the end came, with an 
army of a million men in the field, the demand reached | 




the colossal \olume of three million tlollars ever)- twenty- 
f lur hours. Each successive Secretar_\- of the Treasury — ■ 
Chase, Fessenden, McCulloch — first exliausted all known 
means for negotiating the war-loans directly by the go\-ern- 
nient and thi'ough the co-operation of the national bank- 
ing system, which had been devised largely as an aid to 
the go\ei-nment finances ; but each in succession was 
compelled by failure to call Mr. Cooke to his side, and to 
him, as sole fiscal agent of the government, was intrusted 
the ilirect responsibilit}- of providing the money for carr\'- 
ing forward to a victorious issue the greatest war of his- 
tory. 

All competent writers on the war for the Union, 
both American and foreign, agree that the signal and 
sustained .iliility with which the financial creilit of the 
nation was built up and maintained in the midst of war, 
and with which the mone\'-raising power of the people 
was stinndated, guided, and upheld, was not second as a 
factor in militar\- success to the skill of generals and 
courage of troops in the field. General Grant expressed 
this common conviction when, at the close of the war, he 
sent fi'om Cit_\- Point to i\Ir. Cooke, with his thanks, the 
assur.mce that to his et'forts the nation was largely in- 
debted for the means that had rendered military success 
possible. 

The loans negotiated b\- Mr. Cooke, cliiefly through an 
enthusiastic, confident, jjcrsistent, and skilful ajjpeal to the 
[)atriotisn) of the people, reached an aggregate of two 
thousand million dollars, and the compensation for this 
service, an average of three-eighths of one per cent., out 
of which came all expenses and commissions to sub- 
agents, left to the fiscal agent as a rew-ard little besides 
the prestige and satisfaction of a great success in su]iport 
of a noble cause. 



8 



58 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




REV. SAMUEL A. MUTCHMORE. 

Samuef. Alexander Mutchmoke, D.D., was born in 
Ohio. He is descended from Scotcli-Irish ancestors, who 
emigrated to America at an earl\- ilate and took acti\e part 
in tlie (le\el(>i)mcnt of tile American colonies. Settling in 
tile Cumberland Valley, his forefithers became engaged 
in tlie contests with the Indians of that region, some of 
them giving their li\es in the defence of their homes 
and firesides. ( )thers of them took part in the Revolu- 
tionar\- War, and served with distinction in that vital con- 
nict of the American people. Among his ancestors also 
were some who became eminent as ecclesiastics, worthy 
progenitors in tlie profession which he was to adopt. 

Mr. Mutchmore was educated in the IhiiNersit)- of 
( )hi(i, and afterwards at Center College, Kentuck)-, under 
the presitlency of the eminent Dr. John C. Young, from 
which he graduated in 1854. He had selected the law 
as his [profession, and now entered u[)on a diligent course 
of stud\' with that object in view. His mother, however, 
a devout Christian, earnestly desired that he should enter 
the ministry, iuid by lier pra\-ers aiul arguments prevaileil 
upon him to give up his original purpose and take up a 
course of theological study. This was pursued in Dan- 
\ille Theological Seminar)-, Kentucky, uniler Drs. Robert 
J. ]5reckcnridge, E. P. Humphrey, Stuart Robinson, and 
others. After graduating from this institution, in 1 858, he 
entered the ministr)- of the Presbyterian Church as Home 
Missionary at Bowling Green, Kentuck)-, and its \-icinit_\-. 

The first pastoral charge of the young divine was over 
a church in Columbia, Missouri. Thence he removed to 
h\ilton, in the same State, the seat of Westminster Col- 
lege, his ])astoi'ate in this place being tlistingiiishcd b\' 



.such enthusiastic earnestness that several remarkable re- 
vivals took place during his stay. During the war his 
Union spirit was pronounced, and he served the govern- 
ment as member of a committee of safety appointed by 
General Halleck, the county being under martial law. 

Mr. Mutclimore's residence in Philadelphia began in 
1866, in which \'ear he left the pastorate which he then 
held in Caronilalet Church, St. Louis, in response to a 
call to Cohdck'sink Chuixh, then located at P'ifth Street 
and Germantdwn Ivoad, Philadelphia. Here he spent 
seven years of active, earnest, and successful labors, 
building a new church at Columbia Avenue and Franklin 
Street during this periled, and gathering a congregation 
of seven hundred and thirt\- members. At the end of 
his seven j-ears' scrxice at Cohocksink, he was called to 
the charge of the Alexander Church, now knc)wn as the 
West Green Street Church, at the corner of Nineteenth 
and Green Streets. His pastorate here continued for nine 
years, at the end of which time he took charge nf the 
Memorial Presjj^terian Church, at Eighteenth Street and 
Montgomery Avenue, in w hose pastorate he still remains. 

Dr. Mutchmore received his title of D.D. from Lafa- 
3'ettc College in i 870. As a jireacher, he is ( iriginal, f uxe- 
ful, and impressixe, taking deep and philosophical \iews 
of his subject, and [iresenting his thoughts with a sin- 
cerity of conxiction anil intense earnestness of utterance 
which gi\e them controlling power over his hearers. He 
is warmh' devoted to his ministerial duties, and has had 
marked success, also, in ad\ancing the interests of the 
church, particularly in the role of a builder of churches 
and remover of encumbrances. The Carondalet Avenue 
Church, of St. Louis, and the Cohocksink and the Me- 
morial Churches, of ]'hiladel|)hia, were all built by his 
efforts, and dedicated free of debt. The last-named 
church, of which he is now pastor, is ])articularly notice- 
able in this connection, it being the outcome of a legacy 
of four dollars and f )rty-one cents left for that purpose 
by a little girl. He also paid off a heavy debt on the 
Alexander Church during his pastorate, and has recently 
establishetl a chapel at Nineteenth and Yc)rk Streets, from 
which will probabl}' grow a church in the near future. 

He is acti\el\- identified with all affairs affecting the 
welfaie of the Presb\-terian Church at large, antl to his 
pastoral duties has added important literaiy ones, having 
been since 1873 proprietor and editor of The Presbyterian, 
which contains e\-er)- week articles from his pen. In atl- 
dition, he is the author i.if several works, including "Mites 
against Millions," " The Visit of Japheth to Shem and 
Ham," " The Mogul, the Mongol, the Mikado, antl the 
Missionar)-," and a \-olume of sermons entitled "S])iritual 
Vo lap ilk." 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



59 



JOSHI^H I.HIDY, M.I). 

Am()N(; ,\nu-i'ic,m ii;itiiralists nunc li.uc achioxcd a 
hii;hcr reputation, at home aii<l ahrnad, than l)r. |i>se])li 
Leid}', the .subject of the present sketch. I lis ancestoi's 
were Gei'niaiis from the Rhine X'alley, init he was i)orn 
in Pllilaiielphia, on .Siptembei' 9, 1S23. .At an earl)' a|4e 
his taste lor iiatLU'.iI liistor_\- stidn^;])' nianilested itself, 
])articularl_\- in the diiectioiis of hot.uu' and niineraloL;y. 
lie lelt school at the aije ol si.xteen, his latliei' pinposiuLJ 
that he .should become an ai'tist, from which it seems 
probable that the fine abilit)' in tlrawini; which he after- 
wards displaxed had , dread)- shown itself llis leisui'e 
hours, ]iowe\er, weie spent in a retail dru^; store, and lie 
became so interestt'd in stud) iuL; the propei'ties ,tnd the 
ail of compomidiiiL; druL;s th.it he wished to adopt this 
as a business. Meanwhile, llis stud)- of plants and min- 
erals had cuiitinuetl, and he now abided to this a taste for 
comparative anatoni)-, in which he Ijccanie so absorbed 
that his parents finall)- decided to put liini to the stud)- 
of meilicine, instead of art or druL;s. He was accord- 
in!4l)- sent to tlie L'niversity (if l'enns)-l\ ania, from w-hicli 
lie !4"r<u.luated as doctor of nietlicine in I S44. 

lie entered at once upon the practice ot his [jrofcs- 
sion, l)nt llis tastes turned so stroUL;!)- towai'ds stud)' and 
teaching;' that in two )-ears he L;a\e up practice and 
opcnetl private classes in anatoni)' and pln'siolot;-)-, which 
w-ere continueil till 1852. Duriiii; this period he assistetl 
for a time in the chemicid laboratories of Drs. llare and 
Rollers, and afterwards became assistant to Dr. doddard. 
Demonstrator of Anatoni)- at tlie Universit)-, who ap- 
pointetl him, in 1.^45, Prosector of Anatomy. In 1S46 he 
recei'i-ed the appointment of Demonstrator of .Xiiatoni)' 
at the h'r.uiklin Medical College, through the influence 
of Dr. Horner, Pi'ofessor of A-natoni)' at the L'nixersit)'. 

This position was not Ioul; retained, ami his pri\'ate 
courses of lectures were continued, thouL;li l>rok-en in 
1848 by a visit to luirope, in comiiaii)' with L)r. Horner, 
for purposes of advanced stuil)-. ( )n his retuin he gave 
lectiu'es on microscopic anat(jni)' antl pIu'sioloL;)', ami in 
1850 again \isited Europe, accompan)'ing Dr. (leorge , 
Vi. Wood, whose purpose was to gather materials for a 
metlical museum at the Universit)'. In 1S5J his private 
lectures ceased, he being a[jpointed in that \-ear an assist- 
ant to Dr. Horner. In the following year. Dr. Horner 
d)'ing. Dr. Leid)' was elected to fill the \'acaiit cliaii' of 
Anatoni)' at the L'rii\ ersit)' of Penns)-l\-ania, a professor- , 
ship which he held till his death. In 1S71 he atlded to 
this dut)' that of Pi'ofessor of N.itural llistor)' in Swartli- 
more College, and in 18S1 was elected President of the ; 
Acadeni)' of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, of which 
lie had been a member since 1S45. ,.\11 these posts he 
held until his death. ,\piil 30, 1891. 

Such is a brief outline of Dr. Leid)''s official life, i 
Meanwhile he had gained a world-wide reputation as a I 




scientific obser\er ami author, llis first publication was 
a chapter in Dr. l>inne)''s s[)lemlid work on the terrestrial 
niollusca, entitled " Special Anatoni)- of the Terrestrial 
Mollusca of the United .States," which was illustrated 
b)- beautiful drawings of dissections. This was in 1844, 
the )'ear (jf his graduatifm. In 1846 he niaile a notable 
scientific discover)-, that of the trichina of the hog, liy 
which was first pro\-ed the source of trichina in man. 
Prom that time forwanl his scientific research ^^as in- 
cessant, and covered the various fields of comparative 
anatoni)-, microscojiic biology-, mineralog)-, botan)-, zool- 
ogy, and pakeontolog)'. The results of tiiese studies 
were embodied in a very large number of communica- 
tions to the Proceedings of the Acadeiiu' of Natural .Sci- 
ences and a series of highl)' valuable scientific works. 

At an earl)' date his attention was drawn strongly to 
the study of the remarkable fossils then just being dis- 
covered in the Western States, and which have since 
yielded such rich geological material. In 1847 a])i)eared 
his first pa]ier on this subject, " On the I'ossil Horse of 
Nebraska;" and in 1853 his "Ancient Fauna of Nc- 
brask.i." He continued to de\'ote himself to this subject 
until 1872, his works in the field of study including " Cre- 
taceous Reptiles of the United States," "The Extinct 
Mammalian P'auna of Dakota and Nebraska," and other 
works published b)' the Smithsonian Institution ami by 
the ,\cademy of Natural Sciences. To these ma)' be 
added his \aluable class-book on " Human Anatomy." 

In addition to his stud)' of the x'ertebrate fossils of tlie 
West, he actively continued his microscopic labors, pub- 
lishing "A Flora and I'auna within Living Animals," and 
a superb moiiogra|)li entitled " Fresh Water Rhizopods of 
North America," illustrated b)- remarkabh- accurate draw- 
ings of tliesc minute creatures. For exactness of observa- 
tion, incessant ililigcnce, and scientific acumen. Dr. Leidy 
had scarcely a peer among the scientists of America. 



6o 



JUA'EKS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




MOST RHV. 1^ATRICK 



RYAN. 



Akciii;isii(ii' Rvax, loiii;" known as one of tlic most 
learned and eloquent divines of the Roman Catholic 
Church, is a native of Ireland, where he was born at 
Thurles, County Tipperary, in 1831. While still a chikl 

his pretleliction foi' the priesth I was manifest, and his 

school-life in Dublin was followed by a term of theo- 
loLjical stud)- in Carlow ColleL;e, an institution noted for 
the thoroughness of its training. Here he pro\'ed a 
close stiuleiit. and w(.)n first premiums in philosoplu' and 
theoloL^')-, and an appointment as prefect of the Lay 
House. He com[)leted his coiu'se and was ordainetl a 
subdeacon in 1<S52, and immediately afterwards left Ire- 
land for America, which he had chosen as the scene of 
his future labors. His destination was St. Louis, w here 
he was cordially received by the bisho]) (jf the diocese, 
and at once appointed to the chaii' of .S.icred Eloquence 
in the Theological Seminar}', being also given the privi- 
lege of preaching in the Cathedral, though not }'et a 
priest. 

Ihese honors were due to the impression which his 
great zeal and commanding talents had made on his 
superiors, who predicted for him a luilli.iiit fiiture. In 
1853 lie was ordained to the priesthood, ,uid made assist- 
ant rector of the St. Louis Cathedr.d. In 1S56 he was 
apiiointed rector, and in i860 was given charge of the 
parish of the Annunciation, in which he built a fine 
church eilifice and a parochial school. During the Ci\il 
War he was actixe in charitable pmsiiils, acting as chap- 
lain of the Gratiot .Street Military I'rison and Hospital, 
w here his kind and genial nu'nistrations wei-e of the high- 
est service to the prisonei'S and the W'oinuled, many of 
the inmates being induced b_\- his unselfish ilevotion to 
their needs to embrace religion and become professing 
Christians. 



After the war Mr. Ryan became rector of -St. John's 
Church, in .St. Louis, and in 1866 attended the Second 
Plenar}- Council at Ikdtimore, where he preached a ser- 
mon on " The Sanetit\' of the Church," which attracted 
wide attention fidiu the learning and eloquence displayed. 
During this peiiml he also delivered many public lectures 
in Missouri and the adjoining States, laboring with an 
incessant diligence which only a man of robust consti- 
tution could have endured. On several occasions he 
lectured before the members of the State Legislature, 
with a powei' ,uid eloipience that drew members of all 
denominations to he.u- his attractive addresses. 

This period of severe labor was followed b\' a }'ear's 
tra\'el in luirope, during which he \isited Rome on the 
celebration of the eighteenth centenary of -St. Peter's 
death, and received the high distinction of being invited 
by the Papal .uithoiities to deliver the English course of 
Lenten sermons in that city. This is considered one of 
the greatest honors that can be conferretl upon a priest, 
and is bestowed onl\' on orators of the highest reputa- 
tion for eloquence and power. 

On his return to America in 1868, he was aijpointed 
Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, and ad- 
ministei'ed the diocese during the absence of the arch- 
bishop at Rome. He pei'foiiiied his duties in this office 
so admirabl}' that, in l8;r2, at the request of Archbishop 
Kem'ick', he was conseciatetl Coadjutor liishop of St. 
Louis, with the title of Bishop of Tricomia, in Palestine. 
He visited Rome again in 1 883, on which c)Ccasion he 
once more preached in that cit}-, and was promoted to 
the rank of Archbishop of Salamis, though still continu- 
ing Coadjutor of St. Louis. In 1884 he received the 
appointment of Archbish<:ip of the Diocese of Phila- 
deljjhia, a i)osition which he has since filled with the 
highest respect fi'oni men of ,dl cixeds and professions. 
At a social reception tendered him on this occasion, 
he was most warmly welcomed to Philatlelphia in an 
address by Bishoj^ Stevens of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church. 

In 1888 Archl)ishi}p Rv'an again \'isited Rome, on 
which occasion he preached the sermon on the l.iying of 
the corner-stone of the National Irish Church in that 
city. He also delivered an address to Pope Leo XIII., 
on the occasion of [^resenting to him a gift from the 
President of the I'nited States. ( )f Archbishop Ryan's 
lectures and sermons man\- have been [lublished, some of 
them going through several editions and becoming very 
popular. .Several addresses were delivered by him at 
the Workl's Columbian P'xposition, the most important 
being on the Educational E.xhibit. It m,iy be said, in 
conclusion, that ;\rchbishop Ryan, while modest and un- 
assuming to a mai'keil degree, stands to-day as one of 
the most conspicuous anil most loved and honored pre- 
lates (jf the Roman Catholic Church in America. 



.UAKERS Ol' rilll.ADIU.rillA. 



6i 



(".lioRCi; 1)1 B. KHIM. 

Gi'.()i.;ia-'. im; 1)I;\m;\ i i i i. Kiim, wxll lamwn in the 
rccoi'ds of the city i^nx cninunt (jf riiilaclrl|ihi.i tcir his 
vcr\' cfilcieiU scivirc as >hi rilT of the city ami count)' tell 
_\'ears ai;(), was horn in l\i-,ulin;^, 1 VniisyKania, Januar\- 
I.S, lS:;i. The family honi uliiih lu' descended was one 
of higll consideration and ,L;i"iat sot ial inlluence in that 
part of the State, of whii h the Keims wire anions; ihi- 
earliest settlers, luuini;- come to tliis country at the time 
of William renn's first \isit, and recei\id lar_L;e tyrants of 
land in and near the site of tlu- prcseiil cilv of KeailiilL;'. 
(_)n liis mother's side Mr. Kcini canu- from an ei|ually 
distint;uished family, that of de lieiiilev ille, an illn^trions 
French I Inyiienot, u ho soiiLjht ri.-fnL;c- in I'ennsyK .iiiia 
from the [lersecution in his nati\f l.md. 

After acc[iiiriiiL; a sonnd ediicition and eiv^a^iiiL; lor 
some \'e,irs in the s.idillerydiardw.iri.- Inisiness in Read- 
\\Vg, Mr. Keim came to I'liiladelphia shortK" before tile 
outbreak of the ci\il w.ir .iiid l)e;_;an the ,icti\e business 
career which in time placed him in .i liiL;h rank anioiiL; 
tlie merchant princes of this cit_\-. I lis business e\-entu- 
,dly extended till it embraced ,ill sections of the L'nioil, 
there being no cities wlure the firm ol ( leoi^e de H. 
Keim & Co. was not known to the trade in its line, while 
it eventu,dl>- attained the proud distinction of beiiiL;' at 
the head ol the saddlery-hardware business of the I'nited 
States, l-'roin time to time Mr. Keim Ljase a ])artiiersliip 
interest in his Inisiness to the energetic and able ,\'oung 
men whom lie had gatheretl aroimd him. Gradu.dly 
liis business, built u].) by his earnestness <md industry 
and firmly establishetl l)\- his reputation foi' integrity 
and fair dealing, grew to such proportions ami at- 
tained sucli stability as to re(iuiie no further active 
su]X'r\-ision on his part, and .ibout iSSo he began to 
reiim|uish the more exacting details to \-ounger hands 
and to eiijo)- the leisure and the competenc\- he had 
fairly earned. 

Up to this time hi' had held no polilicil olTue, nor 
felt any political aspir.itioiis. liis iiiclin.itions were for 
other than an official life, and when in iSSj, in re- 
sponse to a general pnl.)lic sentiment, he was brought 
out by his friemls as a candidate for nomination for 
the office of sheriff, it w.is entirel)' against his wishes, 
lie ga\e waw liowe\i.r, to the earnest solicitations of 
his friends and tlu- evidence of public .ippreci.itioii, .md, 
after a triumph. nit iiouiin.ition, entered the tight with 
a \igor and e.irnestness lh.it swe[)t e\ irytliiiig beliue 
it. I'he result was his election to the office l)_\- a large 
majorit)- and his entrance u[)on its dutiis in the v'e.ir 

It ma_\- fie saiti here th.it the jurisdiction of the sheriff 
of riiil.ulelphi.i is one of the most import, mt in the L'nited 
States. It embraces idiiladelphia cit\- ami county, a ter- 
ritor\- containing considerably more than a million people. 



1^ 




.\\m\ when it is considered that this territorj- is the great- 
est iii.iuuficturing centre on the American continent, the 
grt'al import, nice of the office will be ajip.ireiit. .Sheriff 
Keim's administration was so thoroughh' satisfactorj- in 
every respect that he made an einiable record, and would 
h.ue been easily re-elected, fiLit that the State constitution 
forbids ail)- sheriff fi'oni holding the office for two con- 
secutive terms. 1 le tlid eeerj'thing to win the respect 
and Confidence of people of all political creeds, and made 
himself highl)- popular to all b_\- that frankness and geni- 
alit\' of nature which was one of the secrets of his busi- 
ness success. \\\ disposition he was open-hearted, manly, 
and generous, and no man in the cit\' had more Irieiuls 
th.m he. 

In iSS- lie ran for the office of iiia\-or against lCd\v in 
H. h'itler, his nomination being endorsed by the l)emo- 
cratic p.irt)-, though he was then, and continued, an un- 
ninching Re|nif)lican. Ik-ing defeated in this campaign, 
lu- rttirc-d to pii\ate life, glad at heart to escape from the 
weight ol' political duties. 

In I.S-:; Mr. Keim was sent abroail as Commissioner 
to the X'ienna World's I'.iir, and after the clo.se of tlie 
]Cx[)ositiou spent a \'ear in luiropeau tra\'el, during which 
he pnrchasetl numerous works of art, including valuable 
])aintings and statuar)-. These formed the nucleus of a 
collection which became in time one of the finest [irivato 
art galleries of this city, and which was kept at his \'ery 
handsome and commodicnis residence. No. I 122 Spruce 
.Street. In addition to this sumptuous home, Mr. Keim 
had a countr\--seat at Kdgewater Park, t)n tile Delaware, 
w here he kt-jit for private eiiiovmcnt a handsome steam 
vaclit. lie had also a farm and shooting-box in Mary- 
land. Here, in 1S9:;, he look a sc\ere cold, which de- 
\elo|)ed into pneumonia, and after a short illness lie died 
on March loth of that year. 



62 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




MAJOR WILLIAM H. l^AMBHRT. 

I\L\i(ii< William IL Lambert was boi'ii in Rcadin;;-, 
reiin.s_\-lvania, May 9, 1842, and during' his early child- 
hood his parents removed to Philadelphia. He was edu- 
cated in the public schools of the city, antl L;raduated 
from the High School in 1859 as the valedictorian of his 
class. Shortly before the outbreak of the war he began 
the stLidy of law, which was not to continue long, as he 
early entered the military service, and a new tlirectinn 
was given his life. 

Enlisting as a private in the Fifteenth Pennsylvania 
(Anderson) Cavalr\-, August iS, 1862, he served in Penn- 
sN'lvania and Mar\'land during Lee's invasion. lie par- 
ticipatetl in the battle of Antietam and afterwards accom- 
panied the regiment to Louis\ille, Keiituckx'. Here he 
was discharged November 24, 1S62, to accept a commis- 
sion as first lieutenant and adjutant of the Twenty- 
seventh New Jersey Volunteers (nine months' troops), 
that formed part of the Ninth Corps, Army of the Poto- 
mac. He was present at the battle of F"redcricksburg, 
in December, 1862; was honorabl)- mustered out July 
2, 1863; eleven days later he was ajipointed first lieu- 
tenant and adjutant of the Thirty-third New Jersey Vol- 
unteers. In September of the same year the regiment 
j(.)iiied the Army of the Potnmac, being assigned to the 
l^leventh Corps, which with the Twelfth was ordered 
West under the command of General I looker. Lieuten- 
ant Lambert took an active part in the battles at Chatta- 
nooga (in which his horse was killed uiuler him) and in 
the campaign for the relief of Burnsitle at Kno.wille. 

January 16, 1864, he was conunissioned captain in his 
regiment, and in May was appointed aide-de-camp upon 
tlie staff of Brigadier-General Geary, commanding the 
Second Di\ision, Twentieth Corps, — the Eleventh and 
Twelfth Coips having been consolidated as the Twentieth, 



under Hooker, — and was subsec]uentl)-appointed assistant 
inspector-general on the same staff. 

Captain Lambert took part in the Atlanta Campaign, 
and in the action at Pine Hill again had his horse shot 
under him. In the famous March to the Sea and the 
campaign from Goldsborough to Raleigh, North Carolina, 
he accompanied his division, with which he marched 
northward and particijjated in the grand review at Wash- 
ington that celebrated the close of actixe hostilities. 
Upon the (.lisbandment of Sherman's army he was as- 
signed to dut_\- upon the staff of General Wilcox, com- 
manding the district of Wasliingtoii. 

He was brevetted major, March 13, 1865, "for gallant 
and meritorious conduct during the war." and was honor- 
ably mustered out of ser\ice with his regiment Jul)' 17, 
1865. The "Meilal of Honor," also, under resolution of 
Congress, was awarded him "for distinguished service 
during the War of the Rebellion." 

When Major Lambert's active militar\' duties were 
over he tuined his attention to business, and in 1866 be- 
came associated witli the Philadelphia General Agenc\' of 
The Mutual Life Insurance Companj- of New York. In 
1872 he was admitted to partnership in the management 
of the agency, and in 1887 became its head as general 
agent. 

Major Lambert is connected with \arious militar)- and 
social organizations. He is a member of Post 2, Grand 
Ainn- of the Republic, Deiiartment of Penns\-lvania, and 
of the Coiimiandery of the State of Penns}-lvania, Military 
Order of the Lfiwil Legion, of which he was junior vice- 
commander in 1887-88 ; of the Union League, Art. Pcnn, 
and United Service Clubs ; aiul is treasurer of the Mercan- 
tile Library. 

In 1879 he delivei'ed the Mennirial-Da}- address before 
Post 2, of Philadelphia, since which time his services have 
been in frecpient demand for similar occasions and at 
military reunions. Among the more notable of his ad- 
dresses may be mentioned that on " The American Navy," 
at the Grant Camp-fire in the Philadelphia Academy of 
Music in 1S79 ; that at the unveiling of the monument in 
the National Cemetery at Antietam, in 1880; the eulogy 
on General Meade before the Department of Penn.syh'a- 
nia Encampment, Grand Army of the Republic, in 1880; 
the memorial oration at the Arlington, Virginia, National 
Cemeter}-, in 1883 ; the annual oration before the Society 
of the Army of the Cumberland, in 1S84, the theme being 
Major-General George H. Thomas; and the eulog)' on 
General Hancock at Gettysburg, on Memorial day in 1886. 

Early in 1892 Major Lambert was appointed a member 
of the board having charge of the public charities and cor- 
rections of Philadelphia, and September 30 of the same 
year he was appointed president of the department, a 
position of honor and of great responsibility in the wide 
exercise of a true philanthropy. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



63 



HHNRY C. THRRY. 

IIknrv C. Tekkv is a linc.il iKsci'iulaiil i>f William 
liradford, wlio canic mi-r in tlu- " AFaylli i\\ cr," and who 
was for ni,in_\- )-('ai's annn.dly clritid (lnvcrnnr nf 
riyniiiiitli Colony. AFi-. Tcny was hoiii in I'hiladclphia, 
March 17, 1841'). llis lallirr liad been possessed of 
large nie.nis till the hicakiiiL; of his Southern business 
connections b}- the Ci\il War. lie alu-rwaids renio\ed 
to Woodbury, New Jerse_\-, wheii.' his son [)ursneil almost 
unaided tho.sc .studies which fitted him foi' (.'ntcrinLj his 
profession. 

As a v'oulh, dmiuL; his school-days, IVIi-. Tei'i"\" held 
front rank as a debater and elocutionist, and when scai'cel)' 
si.Kteen \'ears of age gave evidence of unusual dramatic 
ability in performing the litul.w role in Knowlcs's dram.i 
of " William Tell." lie enacted the character in such a 
manner as to attract the .ittcniion of that noted tr.igedian, 
the late lulwin Forrest, who ,id\ised him to .adopt the 
stage as a profession. ]bi\\e\(i', he Ii.kI set his hopes of 
distinction upon the b.u, and in l.sr):; i-eturned to Phila- 
delphi.i, where he entered upon the study of law in the 
office of I'rederick Cu'roll Ihewstei' (then Cit\' Solicitoi- 
of Philadelphia, and aftei'w.irds Judge of the Common 
Picas and Attorney-Ceneral of l'ennsyl\ani,i). .Some 
time before he reached tlu- age ol t\\ent\-one \'ears, 
Mr. Terr)- passed his examinations and was qualified to 
practice, but, as under the law he could not be .admitted 
until he att.iineil l.iwful maiority, he w.is not sworn in 
until March 16, 1867, the d,iy he bec.mie of l.iwful age. 
Immcdiateh' thereafter he liecame an assist.uit to the late 
Judge L\'nd, then City Solicitor, .and continued with him 
until 1S69, at which time he opeiieil offices for himself, 
and began a career which attests the ,ibilit_\' he brought 
to the performance ol his prolessional labor. 

While mainly coiicenu-d in litig.itiou in tlu' county anil 
United States Courts in Philadelphia .and in the adjoining 
counties and in the .Supreme Couit of Pennsyh'.inia, he 
is well .tiid fuor.ihly known to the bench of \e\\ Jersey, 
the Supreme Court t>f the L'nited St.ites, .ind the Court 
of Claims at Washington, llis most notable successes 
ha\e been in cases for .and against coi[)or,itions, though 
he has a large mercantile and ( )rph.uis' Coiiit pr.ictice. 
In the suit of the Kensington and ( )\ford Tuinpike Com- 
pan\- against the cit\' of Phil.idelphi.i, — .m .ution brought 
to free from toll a I'o.id through .1 populous and fist-grow- 
ing ])ortion of thecit)', — he opened for municip.al impro\e- 
nient propert)- belonging to tlie principal stockholders in 
the pl.iintiff corpor.atioii \-.ilued .at S3,000,000 and uj)- 
w.irtls, receiving from his clients a fix-, w hicli was contin- 
gent upon success, of S50,000. In d. image cases against 
railroad companies he has been remaikabl\- successful; 
the Supreme Court at its 1887 term affirming .1 verdict 
for $10,000 for the loss of the hand of .1 little child (Clar- 
ence Layer), occasioned in passing between the coupled 




cars of ,1 tr.iin. This w,is then the Largest \erdict for 
jiersoiLil injuries to a chilil e\er paid in this count)'. 

J le receiitl)', in the Dobbins's tllectric .Soap case ])eiid- 
ing in the \e\\ |ersi-_\- Court of Paa'ors and A|)pi'.ils, suc- 
cessfull)- established his clients' title to tiieir tr.ule-m.irk, 
\alueil ;it Si, 000,000, ag.iinst some of the most eminent 
members of the New Jersey and PcnnsyK.mi.i b.irs. 

lie org.mi/.ed .ind h.is .ilwa)"s been solicitor for the 
Perwind-White Coal Mining Compaii}- of Pennsylvani.i 
,uid New \'(U'k, the largest bituminous coal compaiu' in 
the United .States, if not in the worlil ; and is solicitor 
fir numerous other coal companies ,uul corpor.ations in 
I'eiinsyK ;mi.i and sc\ia'.il other .States, .and tor m.my 
|)ri\Mte business lirms. 

Mr. reriy is (|uite popular witli tlie bench and his 
bretlireii in the profession, and, w hile not anxious to shine 
as a post-pr.mdi.il speaker, his read}' abilit)' in th.it par- 
ticular is such that he is called on to preside at the b;m- 
quet which the former students of Judge Brewster, about 
fort}' in number, .innualh' teniler their prcceiitor at the 
Hotel Pellevue, Pliilatlel[)hia, as a mark of tlieir esteem. 
He has long been a niemlier of the Union League and 
some minor clubs, the Law Association, and simil.ir in- 
stitutions. He is a charter member, and has since its 
organi/.ition l)een treasurer and one of the go\ernors, of 
the Law}'ei's' Club of Philadelphia, member of the Penn- 
s}h.ini.i .Societ}' of .Sons of tlie Re\'olution, New luigland 
■Societ}', R.'idnor Hunt, Merion Cricket Club, and Societe 
I'raiii^.'iise de l^ienfaisance (I-"rench Hencxolent Societ}'), 
of which he is ax'ocat (solicitor). He is a member of the 
(irand Lodge of M.isons of Penn.s}'lvania, ha\ing been 
M.'ister of his own Lodge (No. 5 1) during the Centennial 
}'e.'ir of the n.ition's iiideiiendence, when it eiitertaineil a 
large number of distinguished and titled Free Masons. 

Ivxccpt as assistaiit to .Solicitor L}'nd, he has ne\'cr 
held public office. 



64 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




ARCHIBALD A. McLHOD. 

Archibald Ancus McLkch is, as liis nanic indicates, 
of Scotch tiesccnt. He was born in the year 1S4S, and 
was thus one ()f the )'ounge.st men e\ei' intiusteLl w itli 
such cxtensi\-e raih'oad interests as cuiie under his eon- 
ti-ol. y\ftei- obtainini;- a fair academical education, he 
studied ci\ii en;_;ineering-, and beL;an his raih'oad careei- 
while still a youth, as roil-nian in the sui\e)'s for the 
Northern Pacific Railroad. As he Li;re\v older and at- 
tained experience, liis force of character, executive ability, 
antl tle\'otion to tlut)', brouL;ht him rapid proL;ress in his 
profession, so that by 1884 he h<ul attained the respdn- 
sible but inconspicuous position of L;eneral nianaL;er of 
the I'dmira, Cortlandt, and Northein Railinad. The 
I'hiladelphi.i and Re.idiivj, Railroad was then in the 
mitlst of a des[)erate strugs^le for existence, and in such a 
condition that only a man of abilit)' antl resources could 
liope to rescue it h'oni fiu'lure. In this state of affairs Mr. 
McLeod was chosen for the difficult t.isk, .uid the work 
of rejuvenation of the Rcadint; placed in his hands. 

The labor he had to [)ei"forui was no small one. lie 
fountl the Reading largely destitute of ficilities adequate 
to its business. It had fallen far behind its rivals in the 
march of progress. Its physic, d comlition was wretched 
and its e([uipnient antiquatetl. It greatly lacketl pas- 
senger and height depot facilities; its road bed was im- 
perfect; its tracks were worn and loo light for modern 
ei|Ln'pment ; it needed sidings and increased tr.ickage ; 
its biidges and tunnels were too narrow for modern cars; 
its motive power was inadequate, many of the locomo- 
tives being practically unlit for ser\'ice ; the coal cars 
were generally of small capacit)' and light construction, 
and in all respects the road was behind the age. 

Such was the condition of affairs which confronted Mr. 
McLeod when he entered ui)on the m.uiaLiement of the 



company. It was a task that no ordinar\- man could have 
handled. Fortunate!}- for him, he possesses the best 
attributes of his stiu'dy anil tenacious race. Courage, 
pertinacity, a strong sense of right and justice, antl a 
quick mental grasjj of subjects submitted to his decision, 
are marked characteristics of the man, and to them arc 
ackied a plu'sique capable of great endurance. All these 
faculties weie needed. He had to transform the road; 
virtu, dly to rebuild it in great i)art, with an empty trcas- 
ur}-, backed b\' a nearh' l),uikriipt company. These 
.seemingly insuperable difficulties did not deter him. 
With tireless cnerg\' lie went to work, and in ,1 nKu'vel- 
lously short space ol time moderni/ed the road, la_\'ing 
many miles of new track, building new stations, estab- 
lishing storage pkants for coal, erecting warehouses, and 
leasing or purch,ising w har\es ; with the result that the 
Reading system is to-day lacking in nothing except cap- 
ital and additir)nal eiiuipment to handle an immense busi- 
ness. All this was ilone without increasing the percent- 
age of expense. ( )n the contrary, a notable decrease was 
effected, while the rapidity with which the interests of 
the roatl weie expanded in his hands st,irtled the rail- 
roatl World. When he took hold of the road it w;is a 
circiuiiscribed co,il line-, I'hikulelphia ,uul the coal regions 
being its terminal points. When he resigned it had made 
wide-spread connections with other roads, antl had facil- 
ities extending to all the chiel industri,d centres. 

Mr. McLeod had made himselt a true Philadel|)hian. 
He IkkI the interests of the city, as well as those of the 
road, at heart. He saw cle.irl)- that Philadelphia greati)' 
needed increased transatlantic freight service, and from his 
efforts arose the North Atlantic Steamship Line, which 
later developetl into the N. A. Tritlent Line. His jjolic)' 
in buikling up the commerce of the cit\- resulted in an 
increase, between i.S.S.S ,uid iSij2, of nearly two hundred 
per cent., and he thus pr,ietically ilemonstrated the n,ituial 
advantages of I'hil.idelphia as ,1 commercial port. 

Another higliK' important ser\'ice to the city was his 
strenuous labor in estal)lishing the splendid terminal 
station of the Reatling Raili'oatl. It was this which 
spurred the PennsyK ani.i Railroad to the recent great 
impro\enients in ISroad Street Station, so that the city 
fairl)- owes to him terminal facilities unequalled in an)' 
other cit)- of the L'nited States. In addition, he warmK- 
supported the Belt Line, he co-operated in the building 
of the commodious storage warehouses of the Penns_\d- 
vania Warelu)use Comp.uu', he m,ule great changes on 
the New York division of the r(.)ad, and may claim credit 
for the excellent scr\ice of the Roy,d Blue Line between 
New York', Philadelphi,L, and W.ishington, and \,irious 
other things inuring to the advantage of Philadelphia. 
In i8y3 Mr. McLeod resigned from the Reading road, 
and became president of the New York and New luig- 
land Railroad, which position he has since resigned. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



6S 



CAPTAIN WII.I.IAM JONliS. 

William Junes, distiiii^iiishcd as a soUlicr in llic Rc\-<)- 
lutiiin aiK.I as Secretary nf the \a\\' diirin^r the hist war 
with (jreat Britain, was hum in the old cHstrict of Sciuth- 
\\-ark, Phihideliihia, Alarcdi 29, ! 760. His t,M-andfatlier, 
Samuel Jiine-s, h,id eiiii^rateil iVwm Wales to Pennsvl- 
vania in 1710, and pnreh.ised a I<ir;_;e tract of t^rijiintl in 
Cliesler Count)', from which his yonnL;"est son, ITeiiry, 
rcnio\-ed to PhihKlel|)hia, w here he became an Plast India 
merchant. William was Henry's second son. He re- 
ceived a i^ood eilucation, and at an early age accompanied 
his father to the P^ast Indies. Wlu n the Revolutiijiiary 
War broke out, he, then si.xteen years of age, volunteered 
in Captain Fitzsimmons's com[)any, and took part in the 
battles of Trenton and Princeton. Then he enlisted in 
tile nav\', and, under Commodore Tiu.\ton, was twice 
wounded and taken prisoner ami exchanged. At the 
close of the war he was a lieutenant in the navy. 

He resigned this position to go into the PLast Pulia 
merchant ser\ice, and at the age of twent\'-thrce sailed 
for the PLast Indies and China as captain of his own 
\'essel, the brigantine " P!agle." He afterwards became 
one of the leading American importers, and the owner 
of some of the largest and most powerful vessels in the 
mei'cantile service of the world at that time. These were 
mostly built by himself, and formed a tleet of eight or 
ten vessels. 

Captain Jones was elected an .ildeiniaii of Philadelphia 
in 1799, was made captain of a troop of ca\alry in 1800, 
anil appointed aide to the commantler-in-chief, with the 
rank of lieutenant-colonel, in May, 1 80 1. In October, 
1800, he was elected representati\'e to Congress, where 
lie served one term, but tleclined a renomination. In 
Ma\', 1 801, President Jefferson tendered him the position 
of Secretary of the Na\\'. This he declined, and per- 
sisteil in his declination when again urgetl to acce[)t it. 
He was not in sympathy with the pe.ice jjolic)' of the 
administration, but adxdcated war, in \ iew of the en- 
croachments of England an<l P" ranee on American com- 
merce. 

In 1805, when Capt.iin [ones was in .1 Chinese port, 
Pritish \essels took b)- force se\eral seamen from an 
American merchantman. Indignant at the outrage, he 
coiueiied a meeting of the i\mericaii captains in the port, 
• md threatened to tire upon the I'ritish vessels unless the)' 
released these seamen. Phe men were released. .\t a 
later date he lost a number of \essels 1))- liiitish, p'reiich, 
and Spanish seizures. In iS 10, Captain Jones organized 
and was made President of the American hire InsLirance 
Compaii)', of Philadelphia. In March, I 8 i 2, he called a 
meeting of the merchants of Pliilatlelphia, at which reso- 
lutions were passetl against the Ihitish outrages on Amer- 
ican shipping, and Congress urged to tieclare war against 
Great Britain. This action aroused a spirit of patriotism 

9 




throughout the countr)', and had a strong effect in in- 
ducing Congress to declare war. 

Cajitain Jones was offered, but declined, the position 
of Commissarx'-General of the L'llited .States .Arm)-, and 
on Januar)' 12, 1S13, accepted the office of Secretar)- of 
the Navy, tendered him by President Madison. This 
position his long e.\[)erience in naval matters peculiarly 
fitted him to fill. He found the na\')' in a higlil)' tlisor- 
ganizetl and unserviceable state, but his eiierg)' and 
abilit)' quickl)' placed it in an efficient condition. He im- 
mediately despatched Captain Peri')' to Lake lu'ie and 
Captain Chauncey to Lake Ontario, with orders to buiki 
and organize na\'ies fitted to cope with the British fleets 
on those lakes. Plight months afterwards, — in September, 
181 3, — each of these officers had constructed a fleet and 
defeated the enem)''s force. .Secretary Jones constructed 
the first na\al \essel e\er mo\'ed by steam-])ower, and 
the first ii'oii-clad ever built projjelled by steam. At 
til, it ])eriod twenty-four- and thirt)'-two-poundei's were 
the heaviest guns used in iKual warfare. He armed the 
American vessels with si.xty-four-pounders, thus greatly 
increasing their warlike efficiency. On the occasion of 
the British attack on Washington, the records of the 
n.i\\' and other governmental papers were removed from 
Washington b)' his ortlers, and thus saved from ilestruc- 
tion. He organizetl the Naval School at Anna]iolis and 
the Naval As)'luni at Philadelphia, ami coiistructetl the 
Breakwater at the nioutli of Delaware Ba)', ortlered b)- 
Congress on his memorial. 

He resigned from the Cabinet in December, 1814. He 
organized the Bank of the Cnited States in 1816, and was 
elected its first president. In 1822 he resumed his con- 
nection w itii the .\merican hire Insurance Compaii)', aiul 
became its secretar)-, and in 1824 was appointed naval 
officer of the port of Philadeljjhia. He died at Beth- 
lehem, Penn.sylvaiiia, September 5, 1831. 



66 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




Wll-LIAM HENRY HURSTMANN. 

Wlll.IWI IIf.NKV IIuliSlMANN, the sccuiul cllild (jf 

Henry and Uorothca Horstmann, was Ijorn in Hesse 
Cassel, ("iernuui>-, AuL^ust l6, 17S5. At th.it time it -was 
the rule in e\ery German tdwn — .m ancient reLjnhitiiin tif 
tlie tr.ule -uilds — that each yoinig man cm cumpleting 
his apprenticeship should tnu'el and work at his busi- 
ness in cither places. No one was permitted to emplo}' 
him ill his nati\e town until he IkrI i^aiiied senile knowl- 
edL;e cif his art as practised elsewhere. According!}-, 
having learned the .irt of lace weaving, Mr. Horstmann, 
on attaining hi> majority, left Cassel and \isited nearly 
every ct)untry in Europe, working at his trade in many 
places, and becoming proficient in every branch of the 
nianulacture cif " passanieiiterie." i 

In 1809, during the war between Austria and France, 
he joined the corps of Major Schill, whose celebrated 
hu.s.sar.s and sharpshooters made such Ijiilliant sallies 
against the i'rench. He was a reniarkabl)' good rider 
and well fitted to take an active part in that clashing 
corps. 1 le was in Paris during the memorable " one hun- 
dred days" which elapsed between the return of Napo- 
leon from I'llba and his final dethronement, and was an 
eye-witness of many of the exciting events of that period. 

Arriving in this country May 1, 1S15, he settled in 
Philadelphia, and soon after began the business of lace 
weaving in the building No. 55 North Third Street, which 
is still in the [xissession of his descenchmts. His jjusi- 
ness increased, and several changes in location were made 
during the next thirty-seven years, but all within a hun- 
dred \-ards of the place in which the business was started. 

In 1S17 Mr. Horstmann married Sarah, daughter of 
P^rederick S. Hoeckley, of Germantown. .She was a true 
helpmate during his early endeavors and the pride ot his 
household in his prosperit}-. Returning to \isit his father- 



land in i.'^23, he was shijnvrecked near the entrance of 
the harbor of Ha\re. Many perished, and at the risk of 
his own life he succeeded in rescuing one of the passen- 
gers. He returned a second time to Germany in 1S38, 
and with his eldest son \isited all the scenes of his child- 
hood. He w as the first to import braiding-machines from 
Germanx', .md in 1S25 introduced from P'rance the cele- 
brated Jacquard machines for silk weaving. He was also 
the first to apply steam-power to gold-lace weaving. 

During the Mexican War, Mr. Plorstmann raised a 
volunteer company cif Germans, at whose heail he placed 
a deserving v'oung Prussian army officer then in Phila- 
delphia. Pending the acceptance of the company b\- the 
go\eniment, he m.iintained it for several months entirely 
from his own means. These volunteers, known as the 
Steuben Rifies, rendered good service to the country. 
He was an ardent lover of music, and entertainetl at his 
house on Arch .Street man\- of the great musicians of 
the da\-, among them (Jle liidl and Madame Zahn, a 
daughter of the great composer Spohr. After a life 
active and eventful, and cliiell}' distinguished for love 
and generosit\- shown towards his fellow-comitrymeii, he 
died at l^ethleheni, Peiin.syh-ania, August 5, 1850, leaving 
three sons and thiee daughters. 

His two older sons, William J. and Sigmuntl H., became 
associated with him in the business at earl)- ages, and in 
1S40 the firm name of William II. Horstmann c^ .Sons 
was adopted, though no foinial partnershii) was entered 
into. The dex'otion between the two brothers and their 
father, and the perfect confidence existing between them, 
was noted b\-.dl who knew them ; and the charm of their 
home life exercised a powerful influence in forming the 
characters of the two sons. 'Phe father retired in 1S45, 
and in 1852 the mill and salesroom were removed to the 
present location at P'ifth and Cherry Streets, new- and much 
larger buildings being erected at that time. The busi- 
ness, under the management of the sons, met w itli uninter- 
rupted prosperity and growth. Branches were established 
in New York and Paris, and the house attained a reputa- 
tion second to none as manufacturers of narrow textile 
fabrics, arni_\-, na\y, and society equipments and regalia. 

Sigmund died in Rome, Italy, in 1870, in his fort\-- 
ninth v'ear, and William in San Francisco, two \-ears later, 
in his fift>--third )-ear. The lives of these two men do 
not need extended comment ; they were widely known, 
as well for their benevolence as for their sterling charac- 
ters. The business is now conducted b_v the sons of Wil- 
liam J. 1 lorstmaiin (tliev- being the third generation) as The 
William II. Horstmann Company, Incoriioratcd, with an 
extensive plant and upwards of five hundreil emplci\-ees. 
The descendants of William H. Horstmann take pride in 
the seventy-nine }-ears of business life of the house. Its 
credit has always stood unimpaired, even when panic 
swept the countr\- and financial ruin was all but universal. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



(V 



WILLIAM WAC.NHR. 

In 174J the Rc\-. AL Tobias \\',il;iici- came to I'liiii- 
sylvania, and settled at Rcadint:;' as a l.nllu-r.ui iiiiiiislei-. 
He afterwards returned to (n>rmany, Lut ln-> son, lolm 
WaL;ner, eaine hack to America and settled in I'hila- 
deljihia. IK- left a fuiiily of eiL;hl children, of whom 
William \\'a_L;ner, tin: yonn;;est, was horn Jaiuiar_\- 15, 
1796. The father was a successful mei'chant, and had a 
rural I'esick'iice on thr Wiss.du'ck'on, in which secluded 
region his son Willi, un first c\'inced his lo\e for natural 
histor\^ by makan;; a collection of all the interesting- 
objects he eonli.l Imd. 

He received an academic etlucation, and his lovt- 
ol scientific pursuits was indicated in a stiMiig desirt- 
to stud}' nuilicine and surgxry under the celebrated Dr. 
Physick. llis fither, howexer, preferred that In- should 
enter upon a mercantile life, .md in 1S12 placed him in 
the counting-house of his bic itlur-in-liw , Mr. Shiple\'. 
Soon after he entered, as an apprentice, the counting- 
house of Stephen (lii'arii, where he a[)i)lied himself with 
such assiduity as to attract the fa\orable attention of 
his exacting employer, who assigned him respoiisilile 
duties and placed in him a trust that w.ts highly com- 
plimentarx' to one of his age. In December, iSii), when 
he was not yet twenty-one \'i'ars of age, Mr. (lii'ard sent 
him on a trailing \oyage, on the ship " I lel\ eliiis," as 
assistant su[)ercargo to his brother Samuel, who li.ul 
charge, as supercargo, of the companion ship " Rolis- 
seau." The \'o\'age was a long one, lasting neai'lv two 
years, during which many ports were \-isited and man\' 
exciting incidents passed through. \'oung Wagner 
showed himself e(|ual to e\ ei'y emergency, gained the 
warm commendation of Mr. ("lirard, and was foi- years 
afterwards his trusteil friend. 

During this voyage the \'outhliil supercargo had an 
excellent opportunity of indulging his taste for scientillc 
research, and made large collections of minerals, shells, 
plants, and fossils, gatheretl in many ]).irts of the world, 
and embracing much of high -scientific \alue. .Some 
time afterwartls he left the service of Mr. Girard, and 
engageil in business enterj^rises on his own account. 
lie met with severe loss in a coal-mining adxentnre in 
Schuylkill Count}', but on the whole was successful, and 
in 1S40 was al)le to retire from business pursuits and 
tle\'ote his time to matters more coilgeni.il to his tastes. 

In 1S41 he married Miss Louisa Rinne}'. The two 
succeeding }'ears were spent in I'.in'ope. In i.'^4.i he 
bought a large projiert}', then known as I-",lm Gi'o\e, at 
what is now Se\enteentii Street and Montgomei'}' Ave- 
nue, and began at this retired residence the arrangement 
of his museum collections. In 1 S47 he began to give 
lectures here on scientific subjects, llis audiences so 
increased that in time a much larger room became 
necessary, and in 1S52 he obtained from the city the 




use of Sjiring Garden Hall, at Thirteenth and S[)ring 
Garden Streets. Here, on Ma}' 3 1, 1S55. the Wagiier 
h'ree Institute of Science was formall}' inaugurateil, and 
a corjis of lecturers entt-red u])on their im])ortant work. 
At a later date he sought to ])urchase .S|)ring (lardcn 
Il.dl from the cit}', and tuiding that this could not be 
done, he erected on his own [)ro])ert}', at .Seventeenth 
Street and iMontgomei'}' A\enue, the present commodious 
building of the Wagner Institute, whicli was dedicated 
S\Ia\' M, iSri:;. Professor W'agner deli\eretl a tleed of 
trust to certain well-known gentlemen, transferring the 
Ijuilding and its contents to tlieir care, on condition that 
the [M'opert}- should be used forc\er for instruction in 
natural science. Other ])ro])erties were added as eiulow- 
nieiit during his life and b}' his will, the whole benefac- 
tion l)eing now t-stimated as w<uth full}' a half im'llion of 
dollars. 

Mr. Wagner continued president of the institution until 
his death, which took ])lacc Januai'}' 17, 1885. He had 
Ijeeii during life a niembei' of \arious learned societies, 
to whose " Proceedings" he contributed scientific papers. 
The Board of Trustees met short!}' after his death, and 
orgaiiized the museum into a regular scientific institu- 
tion, with a cor[)s of olTicers, of whom S,-muiel Wagner, 
nejihew of the founder, is i)residcnt. A natural history 
museum ^■•n a scientific basis was organized, a free 
scientific librai}' formed, a ficult}' of able lecturers en- 
gaged, and fi'om that ilate to the jiresent annual courses 
of free lectures on Geology, Chemistr}^ Ph}'sics, Ci\'il 
pjigineering, and other subjects ha\'e been (ieli\ered to 
large classes of stuilents. In the museum an admirable 
.synoptical collection has been formed, and arrangements 
made to publish from time to time " Transactions" in 
original research. A brancli of the Philadelphia public 
library now occupies a portion of the museum building. 



68 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




REV. ALBHRT BARNES. 

AiJSERT Bakxes, l(}ng prominent as a leading' Presby- 
terian cli\inc, was born at Rome, New Yorlc, in ijyS. 
I lis father was a tanner, in w hich lousiness his son assisted 
till his se\-enteenth _\-ear, when lie was sent to Hamilton 
Colle^je, from which he Ljraduated with hiL;h hcinors in 
1820. He then entered Princeton Theological Seminary 
to study for the ministry, was licensed to preacli in 1823, 
and in 1S25 became pastor of the Presbyterian Church 
at Morristown, New Jersey. I lere he remained for five 
years, and was very successful in promoting the growth 
and usehilness of tile church. Jn 1830 he received a 
call to Philadelphia to become pastor of the First 
Pi-esb_\-terian Church of that city, a position which 
lie was to hold f(_ir fort)- \-ears. The eloquence and 
fei'\nr as a preacliei' which he hail shcnvn at Mor- 
ristown were equall_\- displa_\'ed in his new charge, 
and Ills reputation as a leading pulpit oratoi" became 
widel\- spiead. 

In 1834 a division took place in the Presbyterian 
Church in respect to the meaning and authority of the 
Westminster Confession. It ended in the division of the 
Church into (31d and New Schools, in the l.itter of which 
Mr. liirnes took a leading position. This was followed 
!))• a trial fir heresy, he being charged by members of the 
Old .School with advocating heretical views in his " Notes 
on the New Testament." He was tried, and received a 
provisional acquittal, being required to alter the objec- 
tionable [ihrases, which he did. In 1 837 the New .School 
withdrew fi-om the Church and formed a New .School 



Presbyterian General Assembly, of which Mr. I^arncs 
was a member, and prized as its ablest and most de\-oted 
minister. He remained connected witli it until a recon- 
ciliation took place in 1868-1869, and a reunion in 1S70, 
in which no member of the Church rejoiced more heartily 
than he. 

Mr. Iiarnes is \cr\- witlely known by his writings, than 
which no religious \\orks of tlie centur}- ha\e had a 
1 greater circulation, while e\'en those who do not asrree 
with liim in his views admit that in his scriptural notes 
he combines extensive learning w ith great simplicity and 
clearness of exposition. He was the author of numerous 
works, but the leading one was his " Notes on the New 
Testament," comprising eleven \<ilumes. The sale of 
this work- up to the time of his ileath (1870) had reached 
over a n-iillion copies, a remarkable instance of popularit)-. 
Tlie same system of exposition was afterwards applied 
b)- him t(-) se\-eral books of tlie Old Testament, including 
Job, Daniel, Isaiah, and Psalms. His " Notes" jiavc been 
translated into P'rench, German, and Chinese. 

(3f the mail)- other works published b)- him ma)' be 
named " .Scriptiu'al V^iews of .Shiver)-," "The Wa)' of 
Salvation." " The Church and Slavei'y," " Miscellaneous 
Essays and Re\iews," " Life at Threescore," " Lectures 
on the lu-idences of Christianit)- in the Nineteenth Cen- 
turv^" " The Atonement in its Relations to Law ami Moral 
Go\-ernment." etc. The " Defence" made at his trial for 
heres)- ami a rejjort of the trial are among his publica- 
tions; also several volumes of sermons and a series of 
question-books for Sunday-schools. A collection of his 
"Theological Works" was published in New York- in 
1875. 

The works mentioned concerning slavery indicate the 
decided stand taken b)- Mr. Barnes against the national 
e\il in d.i)-s when such \iew s were \ei-)- unpopular. He 
spoke freely against it also in his sermons, and has the 
honorable distinction of ha\ ing fearlessly expressed his 
views on this topic at a time when the clergy generall)- 
a\-oided the subject, than which none ci-iuld have been 
moi'e unpopular or have exposed its ad\-ocates to more 
animad\-ersion. 

Mr. J5arnes recei\-ed the degree of Doctor of I)i\-inity 
from two or three American colleges and one foreign 
university. He persistently declined the title on consci- 
entious grounds, though few- dixines, either in this countr)^ 
or Europe, had a better claim to it, when one considers 
his great theological cruditi(_Tn and the purity and con- 
sistenc)- of his character as a Chi-istian teacher. He died 
in December, 1 870. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



69 



GEORGF. W. SOUTH. 

Gf.ok(;i-. W. Si hi 11, niii-ch.nit .ind financier, was horn 
in riiikulclphia. I'Y-hni,ir\- 22, I7(j<), and was educated at 
a sciioiil which was then cnnsideri'd one nf the l)est in 
the cit)', whicli hehl its sesNidiis in tile old liall (if the 
(iernian Societ)-, Seventh Street below Market, imw 
occupied 1)\- the Ihiilders' Mxch.inLje. After ci iinpletin<^ 
his ei.lucation, lie was a[)prentic<.-d to a funi enL;.iL;ed in 
the manufacture of jewelry, which business he thoroughly 
mastered. When he w.is aliout twent\'-twi) \xars of asj;c 
the- funi filled, ;nid lie was chosen one of the assi!_;nees. 
lie performed tills res]jonsil)k' duty so well that in two 
}'ears tile creditors were paid in full, and a liandsoiiie 
balance was tiiiaied o\ er to his employers. 

])urin_^ his ser\ice as assignee, in 1S24, 1k' became a 
partner in the firm of Lewis Veroii <,\; Co., im[)orters of 
cutler}", plated ware, etc. The tuiii ilid a \er\' successful 
business, ,uid he I'emained in it till i.S:;5,\\hen he with- 
drew with the intention of starting; business on his own 
account. lie had L^one so fu- as to import a larLje stock 
of goods from luu'opc, and was about ready to open a 
.store, when, in 1S36, he was nominated and elected to 
the office of Treasurer of the Count)' of Philatlelphia. 
lie accepted the office, and disjxised of his -^ciods, which 
iiad been so well selected that they were sold without 
difficulty at a [)rofit, lea\'inL( him free to de\'ote his wiiole 
attention to the duties of his mipoi-tant office. In 1S37 
he was attain elected County 'Treasurer, on the Wiiig 
ticket, and completed a second term. I )ui'inL; this period 
iie w,is also a member of the iio.u'd of (iu.u'dians of the 
Poor. 

( )n the expiration of his term of office, tiie ikmk of tiie 
United .States offered him the position of secoml cashier 
of that important institution. 'I'liis he declined, and re- 
moved from the cit\- to a faiin which he posses.scd in 
]?ucks Count)', near Neshamin)' Creek. Here, during 
tile succeeding twelve )'e.irs, he devoted himself closel)' 
to agricultiu'al pursuits. He continued, hnwexer, to take 
an acti\'C interest in politics, and from 1S42 to 1S33 was 
a member of e\er)' State con\-ention of tlu: Whig part)'. 
ile actix'el)' contributed to the election of I'resitlents 
Harrison ,ind T.i)'lor, and receixed fi'oni tlieni both the 
offei' of appointment to office, which in both instances 
he declined, in 1852 he sold his fiimand removed to 
Wasliingtoii, I district of Columbia, with the intention of 
establishing a bank in that cit\'. Circumstances caused 
him to change- this pui'])ose, and, .after a short ])eriod of 
residence in iiristol, I't-nnsxlvania, he renio\-cil to \\\.\\- 
lington, New Jerse)-. In 1854 he secured the charter of 
the iUirlington ikuik from the New Jerse)' Uegislature, 
and became the first ])rt-sident of th.it institution. 



zS. 





During the seven )'ears that he filled this position lie 
declined all comiiensation, though !iis ability and good 
management matle the bank .a notal)le success. In I<S62, 
his lie.dth becoming imp.iii'ed, he i'enio\ed to ]'liiladel- 
])hia. Uuring all these \'ears he iiad taken a prominent 
p.irt in man)' of the scliemes of internal ini])ro\enient 
that markeil the first half of this centur)-, cliief among 
them ijciiig tlie Camden anil Ami^ov' Railroad and Trans- 
portation Coni]ian)'. In these enter]5rises he was the 
associate of some ol the fireniost men of his tla\', and 
was held b)' them in high esteem f >r his business judg- 
ment, probit)-, and experience. After removing to Phil- 
adelphia, he dex'oted himself to the management of his 
large fortLUie and to the societ)' of liis faniih' and those 
friends of his youth that the liand of time hati spared. 
Mis friendship was .is constant as his achice was valuable 
anti his judgment uneiring. \\v died in PhiladeljTiia on 
September 1 , 1 884. 

His widow, one d.iughter, Mi's. II. Louisa More, and 
a grandson sui\i\ed him. In 1886 Mrs. South and Mrs. 
More decided to erect a memorial in his lionor, and in 
1887 the)' began the first of the group of buildings at 
the corner of lughteenth ,ind I )iamond .Streets, known as 
the George W. South Meiiioii.il Church of the .Advocate. 
Mrs. South died in 1888, leaving S 150,000 to tin's enter- 
])rise, ill addition to the SlOO,000 which she had devoted 
to it dining her liR'. Should the origin. d designs Ije full)' 
canied out, this memorial will ha\-c cost S700,000, and 
will be the finest specimen of I'rench Gothic architecture 
on tin's continent. Mrs. More is still li\ing, antl feels 
ilet-pl)' interested in this impoiiant ])roject. 



70 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JOHN B. C(3LAHAN. 

John B. Colaiiax was born in Rallinasloe, Ireland, Al.iy 
i8, 1815. He received his education in that countr\-, and 
gained sonic e.\"[)erience there in the art of engineering;, 
in which he was aftei-\varils to engage in important enter- 
prises in America. At the age of nineteen he came to 
the United States, antl for a time settled at Alexandria, 
\^irginia, where he engaged in mercantile business. He 
soon, however, abandoned the store for the more con- 
genial pursuits of the field, in which his carl\- engineer- 
ing experience served him in good stead. His first labor 
in this line was as assistant engineer in the buikling of 
the Eastern Shore Railroad and the southern end of the 
present Northern Central Railroad, in which his capacity 
became so e\ident that he was (.piickh" apjjointetl to the 
position of resident engineer of the I^astern Shore Road. 
The development of the then extreme south-western por- 
tion of the United States rentlereil necessary important 
sur\'e\-s under the dii'ection of the government, and Mr. 
Colahan became attached to the topographical corps of 
the Unitetl States which was engaged in running the 
boundar)' between Te.xas and the State of Louisiana. In 
this connection he served as astronomer for the expedi- 
tion until the completion of the work. With this impor- 
tant labor his engineering service ended, he afterwards 
coming to Philadelphia, where he commenced the study 
of the law, and in which city the remainder of his life 
was passed. He was admitted to the bar Apiil 15, 1843, 
and entered upon an acti\'e practice which continued until 
the time of his death, March 24, 1891. 

During the greater i)art of his life in Philadelphia Mi'. 
Colahan was an acti\-e participant in public affairs. I'or 
some years prior to the consolidation of the cit\', he was 
Attorney fir the District of West Philatlelphia. At a later 
date, on the organization (.)f the UnitMi League of West 



Philadelphia, he became its vice-president, and continued 
so till the society ceased to exist. He was fii- man\- 
years president of the Particular Council of the Society 
of St. \'incent ile Paul and also of his local societ}'. 

In his earl\- manhood Mr. Colahan took an active part 
in military affaii's, and commanded se\'eral companies of 
local militia. He I'endo'ed singularly bra\e and effecti\'e 
sei-\ices during the Native American riots of 1844, in 
which on one occasion he defended a church with but 
nineteen men against a mob of many thousands, and this 
without the aid and assistance which should have been 
rendered In- the authorities, but which they failed to give. 
During the war of the Rebellion he was most lo\-al and 
devoted to the national go\ernment, contributing liber- 
ally of his means, and, although past the age for military 
service, organizing antl commanding a compan\' of Home 
Guards, and taking an actixe part in e\er)- municipal 
mo\-ement for the preservation of the go\ernment. An 
ardent Catholic, lie was broad and liberal in his \iews, 
and ever ready to assist in an\- enterprise of a charitable 
or patriotic kintl. In his profession he commanded the 
respect of the beiicli and bar, and in e\'er_\- act of his life 
was a type of integrity ,md honor. 

.Soon after his advent to this cit_\' he marrieil Mary 
Dorothea, daughter of Thomas Zell, an old merchant of 
Philadelphia, who had been prominent and useful in the 
early historv' of the city, and was an active member of 
the Societ}' of Friends. I'rom this^imion there were si.x 
children, all w ell known in the community ; the oldest, 
John B. Colahan, Jr., having been for manv \-ears in 
active practice as a lawyer, ami connected with a number 
of organizations of prominence as an officer ; while the 
second, Charles Elwood Colahan, is an officer of prom- 
inence in the nav v of the United States. The olil home- 
stead of Mr. Colahan has been for man_\' \-ears a land- 
mark in West Philadelpliia, w here he was so long a loved 
and familiar figure. 

The memorial meeting of the bar held in honor of Mr. 
Colahan was presided over by Judge Allison, long one of 
Ills most intimate friends, and eulogistic addresses were 
made by several of the most prominent members of the 
bar. Judge Allison spoke of him on this occasion as 
" in ever)- relation of life a most conscientious, honorable, 
high-toned gentleman ; just and upright in his dealings 
and intercourse with men, a faithful friend and counsellor; 
kind, generous, charitable, abounding in self-sacrificing 
work for others; faithfid in his dut\- to his clients, de- 
fending and protecting their interests with earnestness 
and zeal, but scorning alwaj-s the use of any other than 
honest and correct means in his contests in their behalf" 
Another of his close friends was the late Francis A. 
Dre.xel, whose personal counsel he was, and who ap- 
pointed him b_\- will a trustee of his large estate (valued 
at about Si 5,000,000), with G. \\'. Childs and A. J. Drexel. 



MAKERS OF rilll.ADELPlIIA. 



71 



GHNF.RAI. Cl-ORC.I-: Ci. MHADH. 

MA|(IK-(iK.\i:KAI, (jKdKllI-; GoKDON Ml-.AIH-: W.IS l)iiin 

at Cadi/., Spain, Ucccmbcr 31, 1 -S i 5 ; iiis father, Richarti 
W. Meade, beini;' at that time United States iia\-al aL;ent 
there. His t;randfather, GeorL^e Meade, a wealthy mer- 
chant i.if Philadel])hia, had enntrihnted liherall)' fur tile 
siipi)ort iif the Re-vdliitiunaiy .\rm_\-. 'i'lie Ljiandson 
graduated at tlie AliHt.iry Academy in 1S3; ami entered 
the artillery service, lie participateil in the war against 
the hostile Seminole Indians, in l''loriil,i, but resi;^ned in 
(October, 1836, anil became <i ci\il eiiL^ineer. lie \\as 
engaged in a sui'\e_\' of the mouths of the Mississip[)i 
River, and afterw.n'ds on the bound.n'y lines ol 'I'ex.is 
and Maine. 

In 1842 lie re-entere(.l the ,irniy as secoiul lieutenant 
of t(5pographical engineers, and during the Mexican War 
served with distinction on the staffs of Generals T.iN'lor 
and Sct>tt. 1 le u, IS afterwards eniploye<l in light-house 
construction, and on the geoiletic sui\e_\- ot the great 
lakes. In August, 1861, he was appointeil brig,idier- 
general of \-olunteers, ami placetl in command ot the 
Second Brigade of the lVnnsyI\-,mi,i Reser\e Corps. In 
McClellan's Peninsular caiii[)aign, he fought at Mechanies- 
\-illc, (iaines' Mill, and (demlale, being severely wounded 
in the latter engagement, lie commanded a tli\ision at 
Anlietam, anil when General Hooker was wounded there 
succeedeil temporarih' to the coiiiniaml of the First Corps 
of the .Army of the rutumac. 

He was soon afterwards apijointed major-general of 
volunteers, and in December, 1 862, led the .ittack which 
broke through the right of Lee's line at ('"redericksburg, 
but, not l)eing supj)i)rtetl, w.is oljliged to f.dl bacls. He 
was next placed in command of the iMfth Corps, but, 
though much esteemed by ( iiiier.d J looker, was not 
called into action ;it Chancellorsville. On the 28th of 
June, 1863, after Lee had crossed the Potomac on his 
maich to PennsyKania, (General Meade was .appointed 
by President Lincoln to the chief comm.iiid of the .\rm_\- 
of the Potomac, then marching at forced speed to inter- 
cept Lee. The two armies met at the town of Gettys- 
burg, Peniis)K.uiia, and after three tla\-s of severe fighting 
the Confeder.ite army was forced to retreat to X'irginia. 
l-'or his highl)- \-.iluable services in this great battle. 
General Meade was commissioned brigadier-general in 
the regular arm\-. 

In the spring of 1864, when General Grant was ]ilaccd 
in command of .all the Cnioii armies, Meade entered the 
field with the Army of the Potomac, and retained the 
immediate command of this arm\- till the close ot the 
war, discharging the duties of his difficult and delicate 




position to the entire satisfaction of General Grant. He 
led it through the sanguin;ir\- battles of the Wilderness 
.iiiil the subse(|uenl camij.iign, and in June, 1 864, tr.ins- 
ferred it to the south side of the James, the purpose of 
the movement being to capture Petersburg, the main 
defence of Richmond on that side, (jeneral Lee, how- 
ever, saved the jilace by [)rom[)t reinforcements. Tlie 
seige of Petersburg lasted ten months, and at its close 
Richmond had to lie evacuated ; and General Lee, after 
being pursued fii iiii Petersburg to Ap])oniattox Court- 
lb uise, with eonst.int and severe fighting, surreiideretl 
April 9, 1865. 

General Meade, on August 18, 1864, li.id been ap- 
pointed major-general in the regular arm\\ After the 
war he was ]5laced in command of the military division 
of the .Xtl.uitic, and in August, 1866, was given com- 
mand of the Department of the P'.a.st. In January, 1866, 
he received the thanks of Congress, " for the skill and 
heroic valor which at Gettysburg repelled, defeated, and 
drove b.ick, lirokeu and disi^irited, beyond the Rappa- 
hannock, the vetLM'an army of the Rebellion." 

General Meade was subsequently placed in conim.md 
of the militai)- district comprising Georgia, Florida, and 
.\Iabania, witli headquarters at Atlanta. He died in 
Philadelphia November 6, 1872. His fellow-citizens of 
that citv had presented him with a residence, and after 
his death raised a fund of one hundred thousand dollars 
for his famil)'. 

General Meade had the degree of Doctor of Laws 



conferred on him bv Harvard College in 1865 



Ik 



was a member of the I listorical Society of Pennsylvania 
and of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 



72 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JOSHl^H M. STODDART. SR. 

l'"i;\v lixiiiL,"- riiilailcliihians can look back mi sn pio- 
Iniit^ctl a mercantile career as Joseph M. StucUlart, Seninr. 

His father, Jnhn Stniltlart, was in the earl_\- part nf the 
centLu-y prominent in hnsiness ciicles, and earned the title 
of Napcijeon of Ti'ade. lie at one time owned more real 
estate throiiLjhout Pennsylvania than .in_\- cither indi\i(Iiial. 
Anions^- his possessions was an extensive tract of land in 
what arc now the counties of Luzerne and Monroe. 
Here, in a pictures(|ue sjiot near the falls iA' the Lehii^h 
ki\'er, he ei'ected lar;4e Hour and hmiber mills, laid uLit 
streets, anil put up dwellint^rs, ha\inL; in \ lew the exten- 
sion of the Lehis^h Canal to this settlement in the wikler- 
ness. rile chanLjed eontliticins intrnduced by the War 
of 1812 broUL^dit this project to iiauL;ht, and Stoddartsville 
is t(i-da\' a small place, off the main lines nf traffic, 
thiiiiL^h beautihilh- situated. Here the son of its founder 
has a cottage, to which he retires annuall\- tlurini;- the 
heated term, to enj(i_\- pure air, charming views, and com- 
parative solitude. 

Mr. Joseph M. Stoddart was bnrn in I 8 16. While still 
a bii_\', he, in association with an oldei- brotliei', establisjied 
in 1832 the dry-goods house of Cui'wen Stoddart and 
]5rotlier, on Second Street, then the jirincijial business 
street ol the city. The firm continued in prospei'ous exi.'*- 
ence through the long period of fifts-nine years, passing 
tlin)ugh the severe financial jjanics of 1837, 1S57, and 
187;,, with success and honor. Of the many millions 
of dollars which jj.issed through their hands during 



their extended career, not a cent was earned otherwise 
than honestly, and not a dollar of indebtedness was left 
unpaid. 

The conditions of business sixty, or e\en thirty, j-ears 
ago and the rerjnirements for conducting it successfully, 
differed considerabl}' from those now existing. A store 
was opened at seven in the morning, anil until ten at 
night rei|uired the unremitting care of its owners and 
their euiplo\'ees. Mr. Stiiililart lo\eil his work, and gave 
it his close and steady attention. Though never actually 
robust, his health was such as to enable him to do this. 
In fiict, during all the years of his commercial activity, 
he lost no more than five dax's from illness, and was 
very rarely absent from his place of business. 

At an early date he was instrumental in promoting the 
Callow hill .Street Railwa}', which he succeeded in estab- 
lishing after overcoming numerous obstacles. In this he 
had regard to the convenience of the public no less than 
to the imj)ro\ement of his own [jroperty. The wisdom 
of this step has been pro\-ed b_\- the inijxjrtance which 
the enterprise has assumed in the railwa}' system of the 
cit_\-. 

Ml'. .Stoililart took a patriot's interest in the e\ents 
j which preceded anil accompanied the war of the Rebel- 
I lion. He was an early member of the Union League, and 
a constant C(.intributor, both of money anil of labor, to the 
cause. When the woinided and sick of the Union armies 
were brought to the hospitals of the city, he and his 
wife were active in assuaging their sufferings. Though 
alwav's intercstetl in municipal affairs, he declined every 
invitation to assume [jublic office. 

He retired from business in iSyi with a nioilerate 
Competence. With mental anil physical faculties unim- 
paieil, he can look back over his career with a satisf iction 
to be felt b)' few men who have had such long experience 
of tjie exigencies and \icissitudes of mercantile life. 

Mr. Stoddart has five children, all living. Of the 
youngest, twin daughters, one is the wife of Samuel II. 
Gilbert, of Philadelphia, the other of George H. Putlei", 
of Wilkesbarre. ( )f the sons, Curw^n and Gideon are 
well-known business men of this city. |ose])h M. Stod- 
dart, Junior, was connected from boyhood with the 
house of J. 15. Lippincott Company, and for some years 
conducted an e.xtensi\e publishing business of his own ; 
memorable among its pi'oductions being the reviseil 
edition of the " I'jic_\-clop<edia Brit.uinica." In 1886 he 
became the manager of I.ippincott' s Mai^aziiic, which he 
left in 1894 to enter into a new publishing business. 



jr.l/x/tRS OF rillLADELPIHA. 



/i 



JUDGH JOHN I. C. HARH. 

Jriir.i'. 1 I \Ki., Sim (if Rnhc'i-t I larc, tlu. cniiiiciU chemist, 
\\,is horn ill l'hiI,KlL'i|)hia, ( )clnhi.T \~ . I.S16. IK- was 
educated <il tile I iii\ersity <>( I'eniis\l\ania, \\hc:ic lie 
L;raduatei.l with hniinr, and lur luaiK' Iniir \ears after- 
wai'ds studied chiinisti) under his disiiiii_;iushed fathei', 
two of these \'eai's beii)!^' spent in h.urope in pursn.nice 
of th.it study. I lis incluiatioiis, how e\ ei', turned towartls 
tht: law as a prokssioii, and his pursuit ol chemical science 
was followed Ijy a I'eadin;^; of law in the oftice of William 
AI. Miix-dith, ni which his de\'otion lo his studies was 
such .IS to i^^ixe him afterwards the reputation of pos- 
sessing; an unusual store of legal know ledL;e. lie was 
admitted to the bar in i8_|i. 

Soon after his admission to practice, Air. Hare mairied 
the dau!4"hter of Horace Binne)-, one of I'hiladelphia's 
most distinL;iiished lau)'crs. In 1S51, after he h.id prac- 
tised with much success for ten years, he was elected by 
a lars^e majoiity on the Whiu; ticket for JudL;e of the 
District Conit of I'hiLulelphia. He was re-elected on 
the expiration ol his teiiii, and coiitimied to occup\' this 
scat upon the jiu.licial bench till iSdj, in which year he 
became the PresidiiiLj Judt^e in the same court. In 1S75 
he was elected to the important office of I'resideiit-Judge 
in the Court of Common Pleas of I'hiladelphi.i, which 
scat he still occupies as Presidiiit;- Judi^c of Court Xo. j. 

Judi;e Ilare served for sonu; time as Professor of the 
Institutes of Law in the l'ni\ ersit_\- of Pennsylvania, and 
in 186S recei\ed the honorary title of LL.U. from that 
institution. In co operation with the late Horace H. Wal- 
lace, he published " American LeadiuL^ Cases in Law" 
(two volumes). In atklition, he edited "Smith's LeatliiiL;" 
Cases in Law" (the fuirth American from the thirtl 
London edition, two \dlumes) ,uid "White and Tudor's 
Leading- Cases in lujuity" (two \'oIumes). Tiie American 
notes to these works arc thoimigh and exhaustive, and 
are highl)- esteemed b)' legal critics. He is also the 
author of " Hare on Contracts" ami of " The New Paiglish 
E.xchccjucr Rejjorts." 

W'e cannot do Ijctter than to (piote, in conclusion, from 
Da\'icl Paul Brown's interesting work on the Phikn.lcl[)hia 
bar, " The I'orum." This work, published in 1856, when 
Judge Hare was still young upon his seat, comments u|)on 
him as follows : " We ha\ e spoken <if Judge I lare's social 




manners; his judici.d dc|)ortment is e(|uall_\' entitled to 
respect. He is jiatient, indulgent, and attenti\ e, and pos- 
sesses one rare qualit)' of a judge, though not deemed 
siifficienth" imjjortant to be gener.dl)- imitated, — that of 
fixing his e\-e ami miiitl on the case as it progresses. 
Whether a judge listens or not, he should seem to 
listen; anil it is neither consistent with all)' rule of 
art or pro|)iiety that, while otheis in the group are 
looking at him, he should direct his attention to foreign 
matters. 

" Judge Hare is a man of \ery prepossessing personal 
a[)pearance, with good features and e\'es of great l.)ril- 
lianc)' and intelligence. He is of sanguine temperament 
<m(I much mental and ph\-sical activity. P'rom his nice 
perception and ca])acit_\', and the com[)anionship which lie 
enjoys upon the bench with two of the most eminent 
judges of the time, together with his unexceptionable 
manners, we ma_\- confideiitK' expect that in a few years 
he will fiirly challenge a comjxirison with an\'jutlge in 
the State. 'Phe character of a gentleman, though not in- 
dispensable to the office of a judge, is a \cr\- desirable 
accompaniment, as the lustre of both is increasetl In' 
reciprocal reflection. " 

To what extent the jjrophecy here gixeii has come true, 
those who are familiar with Judge Hare's career can best 
tcstifv. 



74 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JUDGE MARTIN RUSSELL THAYER. 

JUDc.E Thayer, at present the Presiding Judge of the 
Court of Common Pleas of Philadelpliia, Xo. 4, is a 
native of Petersburg, \'irginia, in which cit_\- lie was born 
in the _\e.ir I 8 19. After a preliminary education at hunie, 
he was entered as a student in the L'niversit)- of Penns)T- 
vania, from which institution he graduated in 1 840. He 
then, luu'ing chosen the law for his profession, entered 
upon the necessary course of legal study, and was ad- 
mitted to practice at the Philadelphia bar in 1842. For 
t\\ent\' \-ears he practisetl with much success, and at the 
end of that time was honored b\" an electicm tci the 
United States House of Representati\"es on the Rejjub- 
lican ticket. 

His service as a member of Congress continued for five 
)-ears, from 1862 to 1867, covering most of tlie stirring 
period of the war, and a considerable portion of that of 
the still more stirring legislati\'e period of national recon- 
strLiction. WTiile in Congress he served on sc\-eral im- 
portant committees, being a member of that on the bank- 
rupt law and chairman (jf the committee on pi'i\ate land 
claims. During this period, in 1862, he was ajjpointed 
a connnissioner to re\i-^e the election laws of Pennsyl- 
\-ania, a dut_\- which he \-er\- satisfactorily performed. In 
1867, on the expiration of his third Congressional term, 



the part}- \\ ished again to return him ; but he declined 
the nomination, preferring to return to pri\-ate life and the 
practice of his profession. 

His period of duty in the legislati\-e halls was now 
followed by a long one on the bench of Philadelphia, he 
being in 1867 elected to a judgesliip in the District Court 
of tliat cit\-. In 1873 he was appointed on the Board of 
Visitors to West Point, whose duty it is to inspect and 
report upon the workings of the nnlitar\- scliool. judge 
Tha\'er wrote the report on this occasion. In the fol- 
lowing \-ear he became President-Judge in the Comt of 
Conmion Pleas of Philadelphia, the position of high 
judicial honor which he still occupies. 

Judge Tha}-er has given attention to other than legal 
subjects, and has written a number of wc^rks, showing 
a considerable widtli of intellectual interest and much 
abilit}- as an author. In 1862 he published a timely work 
entitletl " The Duties of Citizenship." This was followed 
in 1865 by an intelligent summing up of the results of 
the just-closed struggle for national existence, entitled, 
"The Great \Tctor\- : its Cost and \'alue." In 1870 
appeared from his pen a work on the scientific aspects 
of legal de\'elopment, entitletl, " The Law considered 
as a Progressive Science." His next work, in 1871, 
was "On Libraries," and was followed in 1873 b\- a 
volume of biograph\-, " The Life and Works of F"rancis 
Lieber," this distinguished writer on political and histori- 
cal science ha\-ing died the year before. In 1878, Judge 
Tha)-er published a description of " The Battle of Ger- 
mantow n." 

As a member of Congress he was an orator of force 
and telling ability, and is highl\- complimented by Mr. 
Blaine in his " Twent_\- Years of Congress," who speaks 
of his speech in support of the Ci\il Rights Bill as an 
" uncommonl}- able speech." He warmly supported the 
Reconstruction Bill, b)' which the late Confederate States 
were con\erted into militar\- districts, saying, to quote 
again from Mr. Blaine's book, "This measure will be of 
brief duration, and will be followed b\' other means which 
will secure the permanent and peaceful restoration of these 
States to their proper and jirst position in the L'nion, upon 
their acceptance of such terms as are necessary for the 
future .-recurity of the country." 

. In this he proved a true prophet. The event was in 
accordance with his prediction. 



MAKERS OF PHir.ADHr.PIHA. 



75 



JUi:)GH JOSHPH ALLISON. 

Hon. Josicrii Ai.i.ixiN, I.L.l),, tnr many \-cars I'rcsi- 
tlcnl-IiRlL;"c of the Pliilatlclphia Cmirt of Cinnninn Picas, 
No. I, is a nati\c of Pciinsj-hania, bcini^ born at I Luais- 
biirt:; in 1819. .Xftcr i-cccixiiiL;' a liberal education, he 
adopted the law as his future profession, .and entered 
iil^on its stud)' in his twent_\--sccond year, under John T. 
.Adams, of his n.iti\e cit_\'. He was admitted to |)r,ictice 
at the bar of Dauphin Count}" in the sjjrini;' of 1843. 
In December of the same \'ear he remo\ed to Philadel- 
phia, and has since made that cit}' his place of residence. 

The beginninif of his professional life did not promise 
prosperit)-, but by dilitjence and the displax' of abilit)- he 
soon o\ercame the ilifficulties in his wax, and entered 
upon a successful IcLjal career. His first public position 
was as Solicitor for the District of Sprin<^ Garden, in 
which he resided. I lis ser\ice as solicitor extended from 
1846 to 18; I, in which _\ear he was calleil upon to fill 
a higher office in the domain of tiie law. L'p to this 
])eriod the judges of Penns\-l\-ania had been appointed, 
the office first becoming elective in the _\-ear named. It 
was a flattering testimony to the position which Mr. .\lli- 
son had attained in the iipinion of the bar and the public 
during his less than eight \-cars of practice in I'hilade!- 
phia, that he recciveil the nomination to a judgeship in 
the Court of Common Pleas from both the Whig and the 
American conventions, antl was electeil to this position. 
'I'wo others were elected to the same court, Oswald 
'Phomj)son and William D. Kelley, both of whom he 
has long sur\'i\x'd. 

It is interesting to learn that the total \-ote of I'hila- 
delphia for those offices was little more than 40,000. 
lUit the cit\- then was small as compared w ith the Phila- 
delphia of to-day. .\s an example of this, it ma_\- be said 
that there were then only 800 voters west of the Schu\-1- 
kill, where there are now more than 20,000. Judge 
Allison received about 22,000 votes in his first election. 
At his last election, in iSSfi, he received 154,720, a 
striking instance not only of the growth of the citv, but 
of his gi-owth in pul)lic lavor and support. 

The jutlgcship of the Common Pleas Court was no 
sinecure at that time. Its judges had to handle all the 
Orphans' Court, the equity, and the Criminal Court busi- 
ne.ss, while a share of the civil business of the District 
Court fell upon their industrious shoulders. ( )n the 
completion of judge Allison's first term of office, in ( )c- 
tober, 1861, he was again elected to the ])osilion. and 
was subsequently appointed b}' Goxernor Curtin to fill 
tile \acancN- caused by the death of Oswald Thompson, 




presiiling judge. In October, 1866, he was elected b\- the 
[jcople to the president-judgeship, and on Januar)- 4, 187;, 
w,is, by constitutional provision, transferi'ed to tlu' position 
of President-Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, No. 
I. His nianv' \'ears of service u])on the bench of Phila- 
delphia had long convinced the jjcople that in him they 
possessed a wise jurist, an impartial judge, and an honest 
man, and in recognition of his distinguished services and 
high merit he was given, in Xovemlier, 1886, the highest 
compliment that can be juid to a member of an elective 
judiciarv', lieing electetl without ojjposition, for another 
term of ten \'ears, to the office which he had so well filletl. 
On December 7, 1 89 1, Jutlge .Allison was made the 
lecipient of a high honor, this date being the fortieth an- 
niversaiv of his ser\ice upon the bench. .All his fellow- 
judges and the leading members ot the bar took part in 
the imposing ceremonies, ami highly api^reciative ad- 
dresses were made b)- prominent law\-ers, and replied to 
gratefullv l)_v the honored judge. The court-ioom was 
profusel}- adorned with flowers for the occasion, anti 
among the offerings was an alabaster figure of Justice, 
with floral urns, inscribed, " Honor" and " Integrit)-," at 
its feet. On its base was the sentiment: "Justice has 
l)eeii your constant aim throughout the entire fortv years 
of service." It was stated that of all the Common Pleas 
Law judges elected in Pennsylvania in 185 i Judge Alli- 
son alone remained upon the bench. Judge Hare, of the 
District Court, being the only other Philadelphia judge 
remaining from that date. He is still ably competent to 
perform his duties, and may adorn the office for main- 
years to come. 



76 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




STRICKLAND KNHASS. 

Stkickland Kxeass, the loiiLi-kiinw n Chief luiLjineer 
and Sur\c\-or of Pliiladclphia, was bdin in that cit\'. }ul\- 
2y, 1S21, his father, William Kncass, havint^ been for 
many years the engraver for the Mint. He was educated 
at tile classical acatlenu' of 1. I'. Ivspy, and <il)tainetl ])rac- 
tical training" in civil engineerinL,^ which profession he 
had chosen, under his brother, .Samuel 11. Kneass, who 
supeiintended the construction of the iJelaware and 
Schuylkill Canal and the Philadelphia antl Wilmington 
Railroad. (Jn the completion of the latter, he entered 
the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, at Tro\-, New Voi'k, 
as a student, and graduatetl in 18^9, \sith the highest 
honors, as a civil engineer. 

His first service was as assistant engineer ,ind tojjDg- 
rapher on the PennsyKania State survey for a railroad 
between Ilarrisburg and Pittsburg. This difficult enter- 
prise failed, having been undertaken in aiKance of the 
necess.ir)' de\eloj)ment of railni.id engineering, and he 
accepted a po-sition as draughtsman in the Xa\al Bureau 
of P'ngineering, at Washington. Soon after he was em- 
j)I(i)'etl Ijy the J^iitish Commission in preparing maps of 
the north-eastern boundary line of Canada and the United 
States, and subsequently by the Federal government on 
the general map of the boundar_\- sui\ey. 

In 1S47, Mr. Kneass entered the ser\ice of the Pennsyl- 
\ania Railroad Company as one of the assistants of J. 
Ivlgar Thomson in the explorations for the construction 
ol this rd.ul. Soon afterwards he became principal as- 
.sistant, and built the first shop and engine-house at 
Altoona. His engineering abilities were now severely 
tested in the difficult task of constructing the road from 
Altoona to the summit of the Alleghanies. In 1853 he 
became associate engineer on the North Pennsylvania 



Railroad, and in 1855 accepted the position, which he 
long retained, of Chief Engineer and .Sur\e\-or of the 
recentl)- consolidated city of Philadelphia. To this posi- 
tion he was re-elected three times, for terms of five years 
each. 

The new city engineer had important and difficult 
labors to perform in providing the city with the under- 
ground requisites of modern municipalities, to w hich little 
attention had \'et been |)a'd. He did efficient service in 
organizing the Department of Survey and the Registry 
Bureau, and under his administration the entire drainage 
s}-stcm of the cit)' was pro\'ided for. Among the more 
important works performed was the construction of the 
great sewers carr_\'ing the waters of Cohocksink Creek 
and Mill Creek ti> the ri\-er. The bridges over the 
Schuylkill at Callowhill Street and at Chestnut Street 
were constructed frcun his tlesigns. He was one of the 
first to encourage the building of the cit\' jjassenger rail- 
wa}'s, and ser\ed as chief engineer in the construction of 
man\' of these. In 18(13, on the occasion of Lee's in- 
\-asion of Penns\K ani.i, he wds sent to the interior <if the 
.State, where he m.ule an e.xtensixe sur\-ey of the Sustjue- 
hanna Ri\er from Duncan's Island to Havre de Grace. 
He afterwards assisted Professor Bache in preparing topo- 
graphical maps of the surroundings of Philatlelphia, w ith 
a \ lew to the location of eaithw oi'ks, in preparation Rir 
the threatened mai'ch of the Confederate army on the 
city. 

In 1872 Mr. Kneass resigned his office as City Sur- 
\'eyor, to enter again the service of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad Company, as assistant to J. Edgar Thomson, 
the president of the road. His withdrawal from the cit_\' 
service was followed by \ ery complimentar)- resolutions 
from the city councils. He eiuickl\- became actixe in the 
construction of some of the branch lines of the Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad, and in 1880 was elected President of the 
Penns\'lvania and Delaware Railroad Company, of the 
Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad Compan\-, antl of the 
Columbia, Port Deposit, and Western Railroad Company. 
He also became a director in the board of management 
of the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, anil St. Louis Railroatl. In 
1878 he was made President of the PLastern Railroad 
Association, and ga\-e important aid in tlie de\elopment 
of this important body. 

Mr. Kneass was a member of several of the scientific 
societies of Philadelphia, including the American Philo- 
sophical Societ)', the P^ranklin Institute, and the Amer- 
ican Societ}' of Civil Engineers. He was past president 
of the Engineers' Club of Philadelphia. His position as 
assistant to the president of the Pennsylvania Railroad 
was retained till his death, which took place on fanuar)' 
14, 1884. He married Margaretta S. Bryan, and has left 
five children, twi) sons and three daughters. 



MAKERS OF rillLADELPHIA. 



77 



PHTKK A. JORDAN. 

A.MiiXci the nun wlm, in ,i (|iiict l)ut sti'onL;' \\a_\-, had 
a lari;c influcncL- in buikiini; np the fame nf I'hiladclphia 
as tlic IcadinL; iiianufactui-inL; cit)- of Aniciica. Peter A. 
Jiiidan heltl a notable pl.icc, as one of the pr(i|)i'iet<ir.s 
and a luhn;,; sjiirit in the (le\el(ipnient of the i\[acKellar, 
Snn'ths M- Jordan Type l''oiindry, lon_; aekno\\led,L(ed 
as thi: most prominent house in this impoitant hne of 
business in oiu' country. Mr. Jord.ui w.is a n.iti\e <if 
I'iiiiatlclpliia, beini;- born in th.it cit\- on Ma\- 30, 1H22, 
I lis eilucation \\,is L^ained in the liest schools of the city 
,il tiiat peiiod in its career, .md lie bei;an his business hfe 
in ins early \-ears as clerk in ,1 h.irdware store. ..After 
^ainin_L; a ilej^'rce of valuable business experience in this 
situation, he entered the house of Co\\])l,nid & Cresson, 
a well-know 11 business tlrin, in which establishment he 
ln^ld a position of trust .uid confidence. In i<S54 he ac- 
coptetl a position ni the est.iblishmeiit of L. Johnson kS: 
Company, at that time the most import. mt t\pe-foundinL; 
firm in the United .St.ites, .md the predecessors of the 
prcsint firm of MacKell.ir, Smiths ^K: jord.m. .Mr. [ordan 
was admitted ,is a membei" of the fnni in lS(ii,on the 
death of Mr. Johnson, and during the remainder of his 
lift: rendered it the most valuable serxice, having much 
to do with its dexelopment into the commanding [)osi- 
tion which it occupies to-d.iy. 

This establisliment is worth)- of note fiom its prominent 
career, anti its close connection with the de\elopment of 
tlu- .art of piiiiting in .\merica. It is mine th.m ,1 century 
old, ha\ing been origin. illy fnunled in tlu- closing years 
of the eighteenth century, ,md h.is produceil more print- 
ing m.iteri.il th.m .my other concein of its kind in this 
country. .At [iresent it is loc.ited at Nos. 60(1-614 .San- 
son! .Street, where it occupies l.uge (|uarters, and is in 
hill tide ol its higlllv successful careei'. 1 he specimens 
of the tj'pography issued b\' this house as examples of 
its work are said to be models of the type-making .art. 

Ml'. Joril.ui w.isxery happy in his soci.d en\ iionments, 
and sti'ictly domestic in his t.istes, finding his chief 
pleasure ,ind recre.ition in his home circle. His wife, 
well known ami esteemed in their circle of fiiends for 
her .accomplishments and e.xcelleiice ot character, w.is 




^Adelaide Linton, daugliter of John Linton, an old and 
highl}- respected merchant of I'hiladelpliia. She died in 
]3en\-er, Coloi-.ido, Api'il 12. 1SS2. 

Mr. Jordan was a man of unusual literary attainments, 
being possessed of a remai'kabl)' retenti\e memory, and 
\'er_\- fond of books and reatling. His culti\ated tastes 
in this direction led him to the collecting of \-aluable 
wiir]<s,,uid his libr.uy in time came to be considei^ed one 
of the finest in this city. It containt:d in jjrofusitin rare 
copies of old .md modern books, \aluable alike for their 
contents and ,is h.mdsome e\ani])les of the bookmaker's 
art. Being of a n.tiring and (|Liit:t disposition, he spent 
his hoiu's between the acti\e j)ursLut of business duties 
and the enj'.)_\-ment of family life, of his librar\-, and his 
circle of friends, ax'oiding any open |)art in public affairs. 
Pri\ately, howexer, he m.ide his strong and kindl_\- hand 
felt in man\' im[)ortant directions, one of these being 
that of charity, in which he, whik- fi'celj' responding to 
demands for ,iid, preferred th.at his benefactions should 
rem.u'n imknown. He died in this cit\' on IVLarch 25, 
1884, lea\ing but oiu' child, his son, G. P'rederick 
Jordan, who has become his business successor in the 
firm. 



78 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




GEORGE H. B(3KER. 

AMONf> the recent autlmrs df I'hil.KlcIjihia, none liavc 
done finer \\(irl<: aiul attaineii a liiijher rc|)utation for poet- 
ical abilit}- than GeorLjc Henr\- Buker, the subject of the 
present sketch. lie was boin in Philadelphia, October 
6, 1823, the son of a wealth)- banker, and was educated 
at Princeton, from which he yraduatetl in 1842. He Iiail 
chosen the law for his profession, and went through tlie 
requisite course of stud_\-, but never practised. His earl}- 
}'ears of manhood were spent in an extended tour of 
luirope, from which he leturneil in 1S47. While abro.id, 
he had occupied himself in literar)- composition, aiul on 
his retuin he publislied .1 \(ilimie of \erse entitled "The 
Lesson of Life, and ( )ther Poems." llis taste, however, 
seemeil to turn most strongly towards di'amatic poetr}-, 
and in 1.S48 he published his first drama, a blank verse 
tragedy, entitled "Cala)-nos." It was founded on a theme 
from Spanish sources, and had marked success on the 
stage, being first produced in London, where it had a 
run of a hundred nights. It then was plax'ed in the 
English ])rovincial towns, and afterwards produced in the 
United States, in whose leading cities it was played witli 
marked success. In 18S3 it was successhdh- re\ived by 
Lawrence Barrett. 

Mr. Boker now applied himself closeh' to poetical 
and dramatic composition, with intermittent periods of 
acti\it_\- in [jolitical alTairs. His second ilramatic effort 



was a tragedy entitled "Anne Bolc)-n," based on the 
tragic story of that celebrated beaut}'. After this came 
two tragedies, " Leonore de Guzman" and " I'rancisca da 
Rimini ;" all these works showing fine poetical powers 
and excellent dramatic taste and skill. Within recent 
years " I<"rancisca tla Rimini" has been produced with the 
greatest success b}- Lawrence Barrett, and ranks to-day 
among the most approved of recent high-grade dramas. 
In addition to the above play.s, Mr. Boker wrote two 
comedies in \-erse, "The Betrothal" and "The Widow's 
Marriage," and one in prose, " The World a Mascjue." 
The last named held the stage for a time, but was not 
piiiiteil. 

While thus engaged in dramatic composition, Mr. 
Boker produced numerous poems, and in 1856 published 
two volumes of " Pla}'s and Poems." Of separate poems 
in these volumes calling for mention may be named "The 
Ivory Carver," " The Podesta's Daughter," " A Ballad 
of Sir John I'ranklin," and "A Dirge for a .Soklier," 
During the war he wrote man}- |)atriotic l}-rics, which 
rentlereil the country good service by their stirring and 
inspiring character. These were published in 1864 as 
" Poems of the W.n-." His later works includetl " Konigs- 
mark, and Other Poems," 1869, and "The liook of the 
Dead," 1882, a series of short poems on one theme. Of 
his poems those in the form (.)f the sonnet are [)articu- 
larly noticeable, and in this special field of poetry he 
takes very high rank. 

Mr. Boker's political life was a scimewhat acti\c one. 
Original I}- a Democrat, he joined the Republican party 
on its tormation, and remained an .ulherent to its prin- 
ciples. 

In No\-ember, 1862, he joined others in firming the 
Lhiion Club, whose name w-as changed in December 
to " The Union League," its purpose being to spread 
loyal opinions and support the go\-einment during the 
w-ar. He became its secretary, and as such rendered 
im]3ortant ])ublic ser\ices. He continued in this office 
till 1872, when Presitlent Grant appointed him Minister 
to Turkey. Here he I'emained nearl}- four }-ears, when 
he was given the more important mission to St. Peters- 
burg, which he held until 1879. ( )n his return to Phila- 
delphia he was elected President of the Union League, 
and held that ])ost till his death. His latest literary work 
was a \olume of sonnets, published in 1886. He died 
July 2, 1890. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



79 



ANTHONY J. DRF.XHI,. 

The threat banking; Iidus'j of Drcxcl ^i; Co. owes its 
origin to Francis Martin Drcxcl, who was ixirn in tlic 
Austrian Tyrol in 1793, left that counti'y to avoid con- 
scription during the Napoleonic w.iis, and studied paint- 
ing in Hernc. He came t'l the L'nitcd St.ites in iSij 
antl si:ttled in rhiladcl[)hia, whcie he engaged in portrait 
painting, lie \isited Mexico and South America, wliere 
among otheis he painted the |ioiti'ait of Genci.d Simon 
Bolivar. In 1S37 he funuk'd in I'hiladelphia the l)anl^- 
intr liouse of Drexel & Co., now one oi the largest in 
the United States, and with llouiishing hrancli houses in 
New York, Paris, and London. 

His son, Anthony |. 1 )iexel, was boiii in I'hiladclphi.i, 
in i8j6, and entered tlie l),inking house in 1S39, when 
lie was but thirteen _\ears of age, and while his schocil 
studies were still vmcompleted. Subseiiuent tn that 
period the histore of the banking house was the history 
of his life, and its great progress, high icputation, and 
wide-spread influence, the material from which the biog- 
raphy of himself and his brothers must be drawn. The 
Drexel houses have handled and placed hundreds of 
millions of dollars in governniciit, railmad, corporation, 
and other securities, but lia\e ,d\\ays avuided speculative 
operations, preferring to go slowly and go sure!}', while 
all its dealings have been notable loi- the spirit of lumor 
and fairness displa}-etl. To-ila)- the house stands high 
among tlie financial institutions (jf the wdrkl. 

^\nthon\- |. Drexel was for many years the leading 
figure in tlie extended business of the house, and as a 
business man was of firm demeanor and ready judgment. 
15ut outside the banking house he was retii'ing and un- 
pretentious, ([uiet in his habits, antl a lo\ei- of art, espe- 
cially of music. He was for many ye.ii's a leader in all 
pliilanthropic nio\ements in I'hil.ulclphia, and a man ot 
the warmest heart and highest pul)lic spitit. bi this 
noble fiekl of tint)- his great uoik, and the one fi'om 
which his name will long be held in honor, is the Drexel 
bistitute, the institution for the instruction of tieserx ing 
youth in the practical arts of life founded by him in 
1890, and now in its successful tide of o]ieration. The 
magnificent building devoteil to this ])urpose, situated 
on Chestnut Street just west of the .Schuylkill, was 
erected at a cost of about half a million dollars, while 
a million dollars more were set aside by the munificent 
founder as an endowment. The institution was form- 
ally opened in September, 1891, with courses in all de- 
]iartnients of useful art, industrial, business, and domestic 
tiainiuL;, aiul has alreath- taki-n hi''h rank among the 



/ 




eilucational institutions with which Philadeliihia is so 
liberally jjroviticd. The Drexel Institute is one of tiiose 
enterprises which come from men who have the gootl 
of liumanity at heart, and is a fitting memorial to the 
noble spiiit of philanthropy in its foundei'. 

Mr. I)rexel dieil at Carlsbatl, Austria, while on .1 \isit 
to Iun<ipe', jime 30, 1893. We cannot do better than 
to quote fi'om the testimonial to his character written b\- 
the late (jeorge W'. Childs, his lifelong friend and fellow- 
spirit in w ell-doing : 

"As .1 mail of affairs no one has ever spoken ill of 
Anthony i. Drexel; and he spoke ill of no one. He 
did not dri\-e sh.iip bargains; he tlid not pi'ofit b\' the 
liard necessities of others ; he was a lenient, ]iatient, 
liberal creditor, a generous em]ilo\-er, considerate of antl 
symjiathetic with ever)' one who worked for him. His 
pride in the city of his birth was exceedingly great, as lie 
so frequentl)' demonstrated by the active part he took in 
all niovenH'nts tending to Philadelphia's advantage. 

" If one noble phase of his cliaracter seemed to jire- 
tloniinate o\er others, it was his sympathy with his fel- 
low-men, which made him the philanthropist, tlie modest 
gentleman, the kindly, helpfid ni;m he was. \\\ the 
economy of God, which notes the sparrow's fall, there 
are no acciilcnts ; tliei'e can be none when such a helper 
of men as .\nthony ]. Drexel passes tVoni the world 
which he did so much to make fairer and better. The 
passing away of sucli a man makes stronger our faith 
in, and gives new anil con\incing assurances of, ininior- 
talitv." 



8o 



MAKERS OF PHILADFJ.PIIIA. 




HON. SAMUHL J. RANDALL. 

S.\MUEi, 1. R.VNLiALL, A\ho bci^aii liis mature life as an 
iron merchant of Pliiladelphia antl ended it as the leader 
of the House of Representati\es at Washington, was a 
natix'e of this city, where he was born on ( )ct<_iber lo, 
1828. He received his education at the Laiixersity 
Academy, cm Fourth Street below Arch, and at the age 
of seventeen entered a large dr\'-goods house; and, on 
reaching his maiorit}', engaged in tlie wholesale iron 
business, to which he de\"oted himself for a number of 
\-ears. His predilection towards jiolitics was so great 
that, immediately after attaining his niajorit}-, he ardently 
entered the political arena as a member of the Demo- 
cratic part\-, .mtl in I 854 was elected to the Cit)' Councils, 
in which he ser\'ed for the four years immediately before 
and after the consolidation of the cit)'. His service in 
the Council was highly satisfactor\' to the people he repre- 
sentetl. 

In 1858 he was elected to the State Senate to fill the 
unexpired term of Charles B. Penrose. His long service 
in the United States House of Representatives began in 
1S62, in which year his district — the I-"irst Congressional 
District of Pennsylvania — elected him as a Democratic 
member to that body. He had served his countr\- for a 
time in the field, under the ninet\- days' call, as a private 
soldier. He continued to be elected to e\'er_\' successive 
Congress, sometimes without opposition, d iring the re- 
mainder of his life. He thus ser\ed the cit\- as one of 
its Representatives during most of the Ci\'il War period, 
and through the stormy reconstruction periotl that fol- 
lowed, with the utmost satisfaction to his constituents, 
while in Congress he was viewed as one of the leading 
spirits of his party. P"rom the date of liis first election 
till 1875 the Democrats were in the minority in the 
House, and Mr. Randall's role was that of an active and 



able member of the opposition. In that year the Demo- 
crats gained control, and chose IMichael C. Kerr for their 
Speaker. He died in 1876, and Mr. Randall's standing 
among his fellow-members was indicated b_\- their choos- 
ing him to fill the \acant seat. 

In this responsible position he used Ins influence to 
guide the House through the dangerous crisis that arose 
from the disputed Presidential election of that year. He 
favored the formation of an electoral commission to de- 
cide the points in contro\-ers\-, and was successful in 
having his views adopted by the House. His service as 
Speaker continued till 1881, when the Republicans again 
gained control. Dining his incumbenc\- in this position 
he was recognized as the ablest parliamentarian of the 
countr\', antl his statesmanship enabled him to scilve some 
of the most inti'icate [jroblems of legislation. L'inancial 
questions in particidar always received his special atten- 
tion, and he was a skilled adept in their elucidation. In 
1880 and 1884. he was a candidate for the Democratic 
nominati'iu to the Presitlency, and on the last occasion 
recei\'ed one hundred and sexenty \'otes. He served 
during his Congressional life on almost every important 
committee of the House, and as chairman of the Com- 
mittee on Appropriations in 1875, and again in 1884, he 
was recognized as the leader in all measures of economy, 
and an earnest and constant advocate of the [jolic}' of 
retrenchment ami reform. 

In 1883 the Democrats regained power in the House. 
John G. Carlisle was now chosen Speaker, there being a 
diversit\- of opinion between Mr. Randall and the party 
leaders. I\Ir. Carlisle represented the sentiment of tariff 
for revenue only. Mr. Randall, though a Democrat of 
the strictest kind, IkkI alw a\-s advocated a tariff for revenue 
with incidental protection. The former sentiment was the 
prevailing one, and Carlisle obtained the Speakership, 
while Randall was made chairman of the important .Ap- 
propriation Committee. On March 4, 1885, in the closing 
hours of the P^Trt)--eighth Congress, he used his influence 
and parliamentary skill in having the name of General 
Grant placed on the retired list of the arm\-. In the sum- 
mer of 1888 he did a similarly generous act in having the 
rank of " general" restored, in order that the dying sol- 
dier. General Sheridan, might be promoted to it. After 
Cleveland's election to the Presidency, Mr. Randall pre- 
pared a bill for a moderate reduction in the tariff, and the 
remox'al to a great extent of the internal re\enue s\-stem. 
This was in opposition to the views of the President, whose 
influence was exerted in the opposite direction, and Mr. 
Randall found his part\- of moderate-protection Demo- 
crats reduced to a weak fraction. In August, 1888, worn 
out with labor, he was attacked with sudden illness and 
forced to retire to recruit his strength. In the next elec- 
tion, however, he was returned without opposition. Pie 
died April 13, 1890. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



8i 



THOMAS S. KIRKBRlDi:. M.H. 

1)k. KiKKUKiiu:, SI) cclcliralcd fcir his lahoi's in the 
care of the insain-, was born in liiicks Cninily, I'eimsyl- 
\'ania, near !\[oi'ris\ iiie, Jul}- 31. i Soij. lie was a de- 
scendant of Ios(.'[)h Kirkiiride, who canie to America 
with W'iUiani I'eim. Keceixini; liis earlier eilucation at 
Trenton. New Jei'sex', he eanie tn rhil.idelphia, and 
entered the nietlical department of the L'ni\ersit\', from 
which he Ljraduated in 1(S32. Immediately afterwards he 
beyan his life-work in ei>nneetion wiih the insane, being 
appointcti resident physician in the l-'i'it'iids' Asylum 
for the Insane, neai' h'rankf )rd. Here he remained one 
year. In 1S33 he was appninted tn the same position 
in the I'eimsyK ,iiii,i Hospital. Two years were spent 
in this institntinn, ,itlei' which he enL;a.L;eil in private 
])ractice. 

.Shortle .iluruai'ds thei'e was orL;.mi/ed a new institu- 
tion for the insane, officiall)- known as the Insane Depart- 
ment of the I'ennsyh.inia 1 lospital, but much more com- 
niduly called " Kirkbiide's," which b_\- the autumn ot 
1S40 was so far advanced tluit a su|)erintendent was 
needed. Without solicitation, ,ilmi>st without knowledi^e 
on his part, l)r. Kirkbride w,is elected to this post. The 
insane then in the hosjiital .it h'.ij^hth and I'ine Streets 
were remo\ed to the new buiKJiuL^s, situated on Market 
Street west of the- .Schuylkill, and en January I, 1S41, the 
new institutiiin was o[)ene(l, with I )r. Kiikbritle in chari^re. 
He was to continue in charL;e of this est.iblisliment 
throuL;hout his life, a position to which he was t.niinentl\- 
fitted b\- character and education. The post was one 
which re(|uired the most exact supervision and the finest 
ap]ireciation of the mental conditions of those submittetl 
to his care, and few men could ha\'e eipialk-d Dr. kirk- 
bride in his handliiiLj of these delicate ami responsiljle 
duties, which were continued for moie than forty \-ears. 

The institution, when o])ened, had accoimiiod.itions for 
a little more than a hundred i)atients. .Since then it has 
been added to fi'om time to time until now {w^: hundred 
can be cared for within its walls. The tun se.xes were 
oriL;inall\- domiciled within the same buildiiiL;. but in the 
proLjress of the impro\-ements Dr. Kiikbride ur_Ljentl)- 
ad\-ised the complete separation of men and women 
insane. His su<;i;estion was adojited, the buildings beiiiL; 
virtually divided into two institutions. Also, in conii)li- 
ance with his reejucst, an appeal was made to the i)ul)lic 
for funds to support the institution. This [)rovetl hiL;hK- 
successful, a fund of three humlred and fift\'-five thousand 
dollars being contributed. The institution, as reori,'an- 
izeil, was opened in October, 1.S59. l'",ach of its two 




de})aitments h.id .iccoinmodations for two hundred and 
fifty patients, and a completeh- distinct orLjanization, 
including' a separate corps of physicians and other 
officers; but both were under the control of the one 
board of manaL;ers and physician-in-chicf 

Dr. Kirkbride's intelligent supervision raised this hos- 
pital to the highest rank in the appreciation of the med- 
ical profession, its plans of management were extensively 
copied, and no institution of the kind has been more 
fre(iuently visited and studied b\- those having to do 
with the care of the insane. At his suggestion an Asso- 
ciation of the Medical Sujjerintcntient.s of the Insane 
Asylums of ,\merica was formed in 1866, of which 
he was made jiresident. He was connected also with 
the si.-veral medical societies of Philadelphia, with the 
.\meiican Medical Association and the Medical Society 
of the .State of Pennsylvania, which two societies were 
on several occasions entertained at the hospital. 

Dr. Kirkbride has written to some extent on the care 
of the insane, while his annual reports are filled with 
valual)le information resulting from his long study and 
experience. He IkkI a remarkable power over the victims 
of mental malad\-, and could with little effort control the 
most wayward, dealing with all in a spirit of patient 
gentleness combined with firmness, which gave him a 
strong innuence over all that came under his care. In 
temperament he was genial, in disposition modest and 
retiring, and admirably calculated to win the respect and 
esteem of all with whom he came into association. He 
died, after a long illness, on December 16, 1883. 



II 



82 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




PHTER F. ROTHHRMHL, SR. 

T'ktf.k Fkkukkick Roi"I1i:kmki.. Sk., one uf America's 
aljlcst and best known artists, was horn in Nescopack, 
LnzLTiic County, Pennsyhani.i, Jul\' iS, iSij.and began 
his lung period of life in I'hil.idelpliia al)out 1820, at 
which period his father remo\cd to that cit_\', and became 
host of the old luigle Hotel, on Third Sti'eet below- 
Arch. This house was then and long .dteru arils (ine 
of the leading hotels in the cit\'. 

He receixed a conimi.m schoul education, after which 
his father, w ho was disposed to take a practical and busi- 
ness-like \iew of life, put him to stud\- land-sur\-e\'ing, 
ignoring the bo)-'s decided tendenc)- to artistic pursuits, 
wliich had been indicated in his early life. As he grew 
older, his strong love of art abstractetl him s<i greath- 
from the proper attention to the pLU'suit fcir which his 
fithcr hatl intended him, that the sturdy old gentle- 
man found himself obliged to yield to destin_\', and the 
youthful candidate for fame, after his patient struggle 
against obstacles and opposition, foimd himself before 
his twent}--second year, free to change the surveyor's 
instruments for the painter's brush. He had now gained 
not onl)' his father's consent, but also his s\-mpathy and 
substantial aid, and he entered upon the study of art 
with an enthusiasm that could scarcely fail to yield im- 
portant results. 

] lis art studies began under John R. Smith, who gave 
liim instruction in drawing, and were continued under 
Bass Otis, then a fmious portrait painter of Philadelphia, 
and whom the young man had selectetl as his tutor. Mr. 



Rothermel quickh- tlisplayed an unusual abilit}- in his 
new calling, and was not long in making his name known 
as an artist of superior powers. At the age of thirty 
he married Caroline Goodhart, a lady whose ancestors 
had long dwelt in Philadelphia, and settled down earnestly 
to work in wliat was then known as "Art Row," on 
Sansom Street east of pjghth. 

He remained here for man_\' years, acti\'ely engaged 
in art work, and turning his attention more and more 
towards historical painting, a branch of art in which he 
was to gain Iiis highest reputation. In 18^6 he went to 
P^urope, for the purpose of advanced study and practice 
in the histoiiccd field of art. His period of residence 
abroad extendeel o\ er three years, two of which were 
spent in Rome, while he also found time to \isit and 
stud}- in the other large cities of Italy, anil in those 
of Mngland, P' ranee, German)', and Belgium. In 1859 
he returned to Philadelphia, in which city and its \-icinity 
he has since resideil. 

From 1847 to 1855 he had served as a director of the 
Penns)-lvania Academy of the P'ine Arts, and on jiis 
return to Phil.idelphia was elected a member of this in- 
stitution. As a painter he disjjlayed remarkable facilit)-, 
and produced a large number of works, many of which 
are well known. Among them ma)' be named " De Soto 
Disco\ering the Mississippi," " Columbus before Isabella 
the Catholic," " The pjnbarkation of Columbus," a series 
of paintings illustrating Prescott's " Histor)' of the Con- 
quest of Mexico," " Vand)'ke and Rubens," " King Lear." 
" The Virtuoso," " Christian Mart)'rs in the Coliseum," 
" Patrick Henry before the Virginia House of Burgesses," 
" Paul at Ephesus," "St. Paul Preacliing on Mars Hill," 
"Paul before Agrippa," "Trial of Sir Henr)' \'ane," 
"The Lands-Knecht," and " J^acchantes." Man)- of 
these have been engra\eil. A " St. Agnes" b)- him is 
owneil in St. Petersburg. His " Christabel" anil iiis 
" Katharina anil Petruchio," won great commendation in 
the earl)' period of his artistic career. After the Civil 
War he was commissioned b)' the Legislature of Pemi- 
sylvania to paint a picture illustrating the battle of 
Gett)'sburg, and in 1871 completed his colossal painting 
on this important subject. This great work of art is the 
one b)' which he is best known, and is destined to be 
long remembered as the great historical battle-piece of 
the war. It is now in Memoricd Hall, Fairniount Park, 
where it forms one of the leading attractions of that 
museum of art. Mr. Rothermel, now a veteran in age, 
has of recent )'ears been attacked b)' cataract in both 
e\'es, and his artistic career is, in consequence, at an end. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



PETER F. ROTHERMHI., JR. 

1'i-:ii:r I""kki)F.kkk RdTiii'.UMi-::,, ji<., smi of the cclc- 
bratt'd I'hil.ulcljiliia artist of the same name, and i>iu: of 
the most SLicccsslul meml)ers of the jiminr har of I'hila- 
tieljihia, was Ijorn in this city, Septemlier 2~ . iS4(;, and, 
with tile exception of a few years, has s|)ent here iiis 
wliole Hte. Tlie Ixotherniel family oritjinally came from 
IFolland or (.iernian_\-, the first American of the name 
reaching- I'ennsyKania in 1703 In time his descendants 
made their way to the noith-west section of the State, 
some of them makiiii; theii' home in that romantic \alley 
of W'yomiiiL; which has .ittained celebrit}- alike for its 
hi.stor)-and the beaiit_\- of its scenei-\-. I'^roin this localit\- 
the f^randf.ither of the subject of our sketch remo\ed to 
Philadelphia about iS:ro, and became proprietor of the 
old I'^agle Hotel, on Third Stixet below .\rch. Under 
his care tin's Iiotel i^ecame a fuorite resort for market- 
men from the surroundinL,' counties and for merchants 
antl tra\ellers from neii;hboiin_Lj towns, who at that period 
were in the habit of coming" once or twice a \'ear to the 
metropolis of the State to make their pui-chases. In its 
da\- the Itanle Hotel was wli.it the (/ontiiiental is to-tla)'. 

Peter ¥. Rothermel, the artist, was born in Luzerne 
County, before the comini;" of his father to l'hikulel[)hia. 
He made Ins liome and established his studio in a resi- 
dence on Sansom Street, lietwecn Seventh and I'j'Ljhth 
Streets. Here his son, P'red Rothermel, as he is fuiiil- 
iarly known in his profession, was b(.)ni, one of a funilv 
of three children. When he was ten }-ears of aLje, his 
father soui^ht pAirope for study and practice in histoi'ical 
paintinij, and his education, which had begun in the 
Philadeliihia schools, was continued in those of P'rance, 
Italy, antl Cierman\', during the se\eral \'ears of his 
father's resilience abroad. (Jn their return to Phil.ulel- 
phia, young Rothermel was sent to the Central High 
.School, and took the full classical course (T that institu- 
tion, from whicii he graduated in 1X67. He had decided 
to adopt the profession of the law, and at once entered 
the office of lames 'P. Mitchell, who since that date has 
served as Judge of Common Pleas Court, No. 2, and is 
now upon the .Supreme Bench of the State. In tluc' time 
he passetl the iiecessarv examination and was admitted 
to ]iractice. 

Mr. Rothermel's course at the bar became a persistent 
and aggressive contest for business and ])osition. He 
was a fluent speaker and cogent reasoner, and would 
ha\e shone in the field of crimin.il l.iw, but in jireR-i'ence 




chose the quieter ,ind more .arduous, l)ut more profitable, 
line of ci\al practice, in whicli he h.is steadiK' progressed, 
his business being largel)' that of corpoi'ation cases. He 
is to-da\' counsel fir some of the ku'gest concerns in the 
city and State, among thi'in several of the leading mer- 
cantile houses. ( )ne of these is that of John W'ana- 
maker, the greatest retail establishment in the cit)-. In 
the arduous duties and complicated questions invoked 
in his special field of pr.ictice Mr. Rothermel has been 
notably successful, and has attained a high reputation in 
his profession. 

His powers of thought and of orator\- brought him 
earl\' to the notice of the political leadei's of his part}', 
the Republican, and strong efforts have been made to 
induce him to enter into the contest for some of the local 
(.)ffices of profit antl prominence. These importunities 
he has resisted, as incompatible with his j^rofessional 
duties and engagements, though he has taken an acti\'e 
part in political campaigns, freely gi\'ing money, time, and 
talent .ilike in the service of the cainlid.ites of his party. 
In 1X84 his name was put in nomination for the office 
of Cit_\' Solicitor, but he withdrew it in fa\-or of Charles 
P". Warwick, and worked earnestly fir that gentleman's 
election. His name has been frequentl\- pressed for a 
judgeship, but he has ne\'er seconded the efforts of his 
friends to win fir him this prize of the profession. He 
w.is mairied in 18S1 to Miss B|-_\-ant, and di\ itles his life 
between proR-ssional labors and social duties. 



84 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




RT. RF.W WILLIAM BACON STHX'ENS. 

]5i-iior Ste\ i.N> was the descendant of a Al.issachu- 
sctts faniil)', his t<itlicr bcin^" an officer in the War of 
1812. He was born at liath, Maine, in 1815, but was 
brmij^ht up in Hostoii, his ancestral lionie, and stialied 
in I'iiilHps Acatleni)', .\iido\-er, the puisuit of nietlicinc 
beini; his principal oijject. While still enL;aL;ed in medical 
stud)-, ill health induced him to make a vo\"a!^e round 
the world, durint,'' which he rendered some useful sei'\ices 
in the American hospital at Canton, China. Returnint^f 
home, lie graduated as M.I), at Dartmouth College in 
1837, and for some time practised medicine with much 
success at Sawannah, Georgia. It was while there that 
he joined the Protestant Episcopal Church, and entered 
as a candidate for holy orders, imder Bishop Elliot. 
This was no new purpose. He had liad at an earlier 
jjeriod an intention to enter the ministr}- of the Congre- 
gational Church to which he belonged, but had been 
diverted from it 1)\- his ill health. In 1843 ''"^ ^^'is 
ordained in Christ Church, Sa\'annah, b_\- Bishop Elliot. 

During his medical practice in Savannah he organized 
the Georgia Historical Societ}-, and edited two volumes 
of its '■ Collections." His work in this direction was 
continued after he had accepted the professorship of 
lielles-Lettres and Moral Philosophy in tlie University 
of Georgia, since within this period he was appointed by 
the Legislature State liistorian and published a " History 
of Georgia," which has been highh- commended by 
Sparks and Bancroft. During his professorship he 
was rector of Emmanuel Church, Athens, the seat of 
the L^iixersity. 

In 1848 Mr. Ste\ens came to Philadelphia, as rector 



of St. Andrew's Church in that city, in which he cjuickl)- 
became noted as an able pulpit orator. The cluirch was 
in debt and its congregation was small, but his elocjucnce 
soon filled its pews, while his energy quickh- extinguished 
the large debt of twenty-one tliousand dollars which 
hung iner it. His rectorship continued for thirteen 
}-ears, during which over five hundred and fiftv com- 
municants were added to the congregation. 

In 1 86 1 he was elected assistant bishop of the diocese 
of Pennsylvania, and on the death of Bishop Potter, in 
1865, he was made Bishop of Penns\-l\-ania. L'nder his 
episcopal jiuisdiction the growth of the cluirch, which 
had been active under ]5ishop Potter, continued to such 
an extent that the diocese had to be twice di\-ided. 
Bishop Stevens's jurisdiction was eventuall)' restricted 
to Philadelphia and four adjoining comities, yet this 
reduced district still preserving for the diocese of Penii- 
s}'lvania its relative rank and influence among American 
dioceses. 

Bishop .Stevens in person was tall, graceful, and dig- 
nified ; his manners were courteous, his voice cultivated 
and rich in its modulations. As an orator his powers 
were fine, few public speakers in or out of his [jrofession 
being his equals in polished orator}- or felicit}- of phrase 
and manner. He continued his literarx- labors after 
coming to Philadelphia, and published a considerable 
number of works, including "The Undeveloped Pow-ers 
of the Church," " The Relations of the Clergy and 
Lait\-," " Memorial Discourses,"' and various others. 
Among those relating to Georgia may be named, " His- 
tory of the Silk-Culture in Georgia," an exhaustive 
treatise on this interesting subject. 

During his episcopate about twenty new parishes were 
added to those previousl}- in Philadelphia, new churches 
and other edifices were built in some of the older parishes, 
and the niissionar_\- and charitable work of the church 
was much extended in the cit\-. The missions organized 
or fostered b\- him include the City Mission, German, 
French, Spanish, and It.dian Missions, and a church 
mission to deaf mutes. 

In 1868 Bishop Stevens was appointed to take cliarge 
of the American P2piscopal churches on the continent 
of Europe. In July, 1876, he officiated at the Centennial 
exercises in Independence Scjuare in honor of the Dec- 
laration of Independence. In 1878 he attended a Con- 
ference of Anglican bisjiops in London, where he 
preached at Westminster Abbey and Canterbury Cathe- 
dral, and in 1885 preached the sermon before the Pan- 
Anglican Council at Lambeth. He continued in the 
performance of public duties till within a few daj-s of his 
deatli, which took place June 11, 1S87. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



HOWARD MORWITZ, M.D. 

Amonc (uir citizens of German l)irtli, none ha\-c played 
a more pmmincnt and U'^cful part in the development of 
the interests of Philaileliihia than the suhjcct of our pres- 
ent sketch, who was widel\- known as one of tlie ablest 
and most influential of German-American journalists and 
publishers. Dr. Moi-\\itz was born at Dantzic, Prussia, 
June 12, 1815, his father beini;- a wealthy merchant of 
that place. In aildition to the classics, he was educated 
in the Semitic lan;j;ii;ii;es and ( )riental literatui'e, and at 
the age of se\cnteen bei^an the study of medicine, which 
he completed at the University of Berlin, with studies 
also at Halle and Leipsic. He was admitted to practice 
at Berlin in 1S40, and was appointed Assistant l'h\-sician 
in the Clinic of the L'ni\-ersit_\-. In i(S43 he left Berlin 
f>r Konitz, where he fountl better iij)portiinities tor the 
treatment of his specialt)-, — nient.d .uid nervous diseases. 
While thus engai;"ed in practice, he wrote se\eral excel- 
lent essa}-s on medical subjects ami a hiL;hl_\" ajjpreciated 
" Histor\' of Metlicine." 

When the revolutionary troubles of 184.S broke out, 
Dr. ]\Iorwitz joined the part}- of the people, and was prom- 
inent in it till disabled by a serii ms accident. DuriiiL;- 
his slow recowr\' he eni[)loyetl him>elf in chemical and 
technical studies, and made sonic \aluable iinentions, 
particularly a breech-IoadiiiL; Ljun. I-'indiuL; no field f ir 
this imention in German\', in iS;o he \isited Kntjland 
and the United States in search of <i market, and ha\"inL,r 
determined to make America his fuim-e home, he soon 
returned to that countr}- and settled in Philadelphia. 

Here he quickl\- took up his future ]M'ofession of journ- 
alist, purchasing in 1853 the Pliiladclf^hia Dti!io<riU, the 
oldest tl.iil}- German neuspapei' in the counti'y. This 
paper was [niblished untler the fiini name of Hoffman v^ 
Morwitz till 1874, in which ye.ir Mr. Hoffman retired, 
and the business was continued under the firm name ot 
Morwitz & Co. One of the earliest public-spirited efforts 
of our new citizen was to acKocate earnestly, in 1854, 
the consolidation of Philadelphia, that movement w hich 
added so greatl}' to the importance of the cit_\-. In 1855 
he started a weekly Democratic paper called the Vn-ciii- 
igtc Staalcii Zcituiig, and in 1S56 a literary Sunday paper 
entitled Die Xcuc \]\lt. By this time his ])olitical in- 
fluence, as controlling the German \ote, had grown great, 
and he is credited with causing the election of Mayor 
Waux over his opponent, R. T. Conrad. In 1S56 lie 
worked earnestly among the German \oters for the elec- 
tion of Mr. Buchanan to the Presidency, and had much 
to do with gaining a Democratic majorit)' in Penns}!- 
vania. 

He was now urged to purchase the old Democratic 
organ of the State, Tlic Pcnusylvaiiian, and did so, run- 
ning both papers till i860, when, in consequence of the 
division in the ranks of the Democracv, he resoK'ed to 




sujjport neither ot the cantlidates for the Presidenc)', and 
sold Tlic Piiiusylvaiuau at a sacrifice. 

During the war, Dr. Morwitz, though still an ardent 
Democrat, earnest!}" suppoi'ted the go\-ernment, .and aided 
in the f>rm.ition of several (.ierman i-egiments, ami also 
in placing the government loans. At the beginning of 
the war, a CjeiaiKui dispensar}-, in consequence of the 
business depression, was obliged to close. Dr. Morwitz 
at once reopened it at his own expense, resumeti his old 
profession, and ga\e medical advice and medicine free of 
charge until the improvement in business brought out- 
siile aid. In 1 8O2 he took part in the org.miz.ition of 
the " German Press Association of Penns}-lvania ;" and 
in 1870, at the beginning of the P'ranco-Prussian War, 
he took steps to raise finuls in America with the \i\.\\-- 
])ose of cai'ing for the woundeil and sick soldiers of the 
I'atlierlanil. The movement thus started resulted in 
I'aising an aggregate sum of S6oo,000 in this country for 
the purpose indicatetl. 

In 1872 Dr. Morwitz lent his assistance to the move- 
ment started b}' liberal Repulilicans in favor of reform 
in the municiiial govei'imient of Philadelphia. He made 
the movement popular among the German Democrats, 
and in 1874 purchased The Age news])aper to assist in 
it. But the reformers disagreed, and their opponents 
triumplied. In 1875 he sold The Age to tlie Times Pub- 
lishing Compan}', and joined in establishing the Times, 
with which he remained connectetl till 1 88 1. The news- 
paper interests mentioned are onl}- a few of those in 
which he became concerned. P2ventuall\- he owned or 
controlled nearl}- three hundred newspapers, eight of 
them dailies, which he had acquired or established since 
1853. In his private character he was liberal and gener- 
ous in unostentatious charity, a s}-mpathetic helper of 
the talented and meritorious who are without means, and 
lived a frus/al, retired, and studious life. 



86 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JOSHPH WHARTON. 

)ii>i-rii WTiAKiiix, burn in l'hil,i(k'l])liia, March 3, 1S26, 
is (IcsLcmlcd, tlirciUL;li his parents, Wilhani \\'hart(>n and 
Deborah l-'ishcr, froni twnof the fnst scttk-i's in I'hila- 
dclphia, n.uiicK-, Thninas Wdiartmi, who came here in or 
alimit the year l()S:;, and John l-'islier. who came with 
William IV-nn from EnLjianil on iiis first \-oyai;e in tlie 
sliip "Welcome" in 1682. lie was educated in the best 
private schools of Philadelphia until the a_L;e of fourteen, 
and until sixteen by a Har\ard Ljraduatc, when he was 
sent to learn farmini^ in Chester County, Pennsylvania. 
He spent three \-ears at this laboi', returning; to Phila- 
delphia in the winter to study. At the aL;e of nineteen 
he entered the counting-house of Wain & Leaming, and 
in the )-ear I S47 joined his brother in establishing a large 
manufictor\- of white lead, etc., which they sokl after a 
few \-ears to John T. Lewis & ]5rothers. 

In 1853, after some smaller enterprises, such as making 
bricks b\' machinery, he took charge of the Lehigh Zinc 
Company's business at Bethlehem, Penna., at first of its 
mines, and later of its zinc-o.xide wurks. In 1857 he 
leasetl the whole establishment, ami managed it on his 
own account through the hard winter of 1857-58, re- 
suming afterwards its management for the compan_\-. In 
1859 he experimented successful!}- in the jiroduction of 
metallic zinc or spelter, w hich resulteil in his building in 
i860, for the Lehigh Zinc Company, of which he was 
part owner, the first successful spelter works in America. 
He operated these works as lessee until April I, 1863, 
and produced about nine million pounds of spelter. In 
the same year he began the manufacture of nickel at 
Camden, New Jersey, from the ores of the tiai) Mine, in 
Lancaster Count)-, Pennsylvania, which mine he bought, 
and which probably yielded under his rule more nickel 
than has anv other single mine in the workl. He still 



carries on the establishment at Camden, producing nickel, 
cobalt, and other merchandise, though now obliged to 
draw material for it from Canada. For advances in the 
art of nickel making se\-eral awards have been made to 
Mr. W'harton b\- international fiirs. particularly the gold 
medal of the Paris P'xposition of 1878 for malleable nickel 
in divers foi'ms, a display so no\-el that the jury at first 
doubted its realit}-. Nickel magnets for ships' compasses 
were made b\^ him in 1876, and he demonstrated in 1888 
the increase of magnetic moment of forged nickel after 
the addition of tungsten. 

As 1 )ii-ectoi- (if the Bethlehem Iron Company, w-hose 
princiixil products were steel rails antl billets, he advo- 
cated in 1885 the undei-taking 1)_\- that company- of ex- 
tensive works for making steel forgings, and in 1886 
\-isited I'jigland ami ["ranee, making there preliminary 
contracts for the acquisition of the best methods and 
apparatus. (Jut of this has grown, under the wise liber- 
alit)- of the compan\- and the mechanical abilit\- of their 
superintentlent, Mr. John l-"ritz, a vast steel-making es- 
tablishment, doubtless the finest in the world, producing 
steel and nickel-steel armor plates, gun forgings, shaft- 
ings, cranks, etc. of luirivalled excellence, without which 
the modern na\y of the L'nited States or the new ship- 
building indiistiy of this country woukl scarce!)- ha\e 
been possible. Ik' has acijuired tluring tlie past twent_\- 
}-ears about one lunulred and hft_\- square miles of land 
in New jerse\-, from which he has offered to suppl_\- 
Philadelphia with abundance of water. 

Ha\-ing participated in the founding of the Industrial 
League, and having for man_\- \-ears taken active part in 
I promoting jirotectixe tariff legislation, he was offered the 
Republican nomination for member of Congress in the 
second district of Penns\-lvania, where election w-as cer- 
tain, but declined to enter public life, and has never held 
' public office except as school director, though frequently 
consulted concerning pending legislation. In Ma)-, 1881, 
he founded the Wharton .School of Finance and txon- 
om\- as a department of the University of Penns}-lvania, 
I and has since then doubled its original endow-ment. He 
was one of the founders of Swarthmore College, of whose 
managers he has been president since 1883. 

He has been largely engaged in several railroad enter- 
prises, and in other lousiness affairs and manufictures 
besides those named, such as iron mining and making, 
glass making, etc., and has had experience as railroad 
director, bank director, etc. He has produced from time 
to time addresses and short treatises upon man_\- current 
topics, mainl}- scientific, industrial, and financial. Mr. 
Wharton married, in 1854, Anna C. Lovering, daughter 
of Joseph S. Lovering, of Philadelphia. He is a member 
of The Religious Society of Friends, as have been all his 
ancestors for many generations. He has been a member 
of the American Philosophical Societ}- since 1869. 



MAKF.RS OF PIIILADFJ.PIHA. 



87 



JOHN F. GRAFF ('•Graybcard"). 

JiiiiN F'kaxki.in GkaI'I" is of Gci'inan discunt, liis an- 
cestors havinLj cmi^n-atcd from Hanoxcr early in the last 
ccntur)-. His t^n-cat-oraiKJfatlier Graff was a contcm])o- 
rary of I Ienr\' Melcliior Mulileiifje-rL;, an<J was also a 
Lutheran jireacher, and it is probably to him that the 
subject of this sketch owes his stroili; theolotjical bias. 
Mr. Graff was Ijorn in Alontijomer)- Count)', this .State, 
December 2},. 1828, recci\cd a c^ood connnon school 
education, antl at tifteen removed to I'hilailelphia to Icai'ii 
to be a merchant. Amont; his hrst e.xpei'iences here in 
the sprinLj of 1844 was to witness the InnniiiL; of .St. 
Au<^ustine Catholic Church antl other lawless acts inci- 
dent to the Nati\c .Xmerican riots. Thiet- years later lie 
went into business, and until 1856 was m.u'nly enL;a.^ed in 
mercantile pursuits. During- these _\-ears he was an as- 
siduous reader of the best standard authors, the fi-uitas4e 
of \\hich appeared in frecpieiit contributions to cui'rent 
periodicals and lectures tlesi^iled to ele\'ate youiiL; men. 
He earl)- es])ousetl the Prohibition moxenient, address- 
injj; mail)' auiliences, inchu.lini; the .State LeLjislature at 
H.irrisburt^r. He siibst;i|uentl)' t:hanL;ed his \ie\\s, pre- 
ferrin<j the incLdcation of self-control. ,\t ,1 l.itei' period 
he became a stanch atlvocatc of Woman .SuffraL^e, and 
now maintains that it will be impossible to test the 
ultimate \ahie of pojjular goxernment while iLjnorant 
men have civil rights from whicli educated women are 
debarred. 

In the ])residential contest of 1856, Mr. Graff's ability 
as a speaker brought lii'n into ])rominence on the rostrimi, 
his maiden efforts being in fudr of I'uichanan. FJisuing 
events changed his political affiliations. About the same 
time an intervie\s' with Horace (jreele)' \sas niainl\- in- 
strumeiit.d in leading him into journalism, lie Iieai'd a 
lecture 1))' Ml', (jreele)-, of which he wrote a fidl reixirt 
without notes, and sent it to the lectm'er. The residl 
was the tender of a position on the Iriliunc. 

liut w hat seemed a more accejitable offer was soon after 
presentetl b)' the founiling of the Philadelphia /'/'i.w, to 
whose staff he was invited 1.))' its proprietor, the late 
J<ihn \V. i'Drnc')', before the fu'st mnnber was issued, on | 
August I, 1857. As his initial work was to 1k' cori'e- 
s[)ondence, Colonel Forney reconuiienileil the ado[)tion 
of a iioui (/(• />//////(', antl from that tinie, for a (piarter of 
a centur)', the signature of " Grax'beard" was a featui'e in 
the cohunns of /'//<• J'/rss. In answer to wh)' he chose 
this grizzh' title, he has said that he assmned it as a i 
fiction and retains it as a fact. .Soon after '/7tr /Wss was 
started came the panic of 1857. I-'or a costh' newsjjaper 
venture, with little else than the brilliant rejiutation of 
its owner as its capital, the time was un])r()i)itious, and 
Colonel F'orney, on account of Mr. Graff's mercantile 
experience, assigned to him a prominent share in the 
business management, with the satisfactory result that I 




77/r /'/rss soon took first place in its strictl)' mercan- 
tile patronage. But this did not interru|)t his contribu- 
tions as a writer. The estt.-em in w Inch he was held bv 
his chief was thus expressed in a [)ublished letter: "I 
Iku'c been ftntunate in my friends, and in none more so 
th.m in Mr. (iraff His gifts are markeil, ,ind his traits 
manl)' integrit)', sincerit)', and a magnetic nature. He 
has bet-n to me a helper and friend, and 1 lo\'e in'm like 
a brollur." .\mong his serials readil)' recalleil are 
"Strolls through Laurel Hill;" " Letters from Abroad," 
in i8f)r); his second " l'',uro])ean .Series," in 1 878; "Pul- 
pit Portraits," which ran through )'ears; and his " Trips 
across the Continent," his " Letters from Colorado" 
ha\ing been afterwards ])ublished in book form b)' the 
I.i])pincotts. 

Perha|)s the work Ij)' which he will be best I'emem- 
beretl is his book of " La\' Sermons," also publisiied 
b)' the Li[)pincotts. Through two years he contributed 
these essa)'s ever)- Saturda)', much curiosity being elic- 
ited as to the waiter's denomination, to wiiich he once 
answered jjublicl)', " that all who lo\'ed the Lord Jesus 
Cin'ist in sincerity" were his brethren. The book was 
intended as a unicpie commentary ujjon the Word of 
(ioti, and as such it maintains its jilace and ex[)ository 
value. 

He has an a\ersion to |)rominence; tleclined to become 
a coproi)rietor of J'/ir /'/rss during l''orne)''s owiiershij) ; 
has refused bank presidencies antl places on public boards 
and committees. To worth)' )'oung men he has been a 
life-long friend, and not a few who have since achieved 
honorable success rcceixed from him their first helpful 
inipnlse. His oral addresses, once frequent, are now al- 
almost confined to occasional expository discourses on 
Bible themes, delivered by request in various public in- 
stitutions. 



88 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




GHORC.E B. ROBHRTS. 

( )XE i)f the IllDst UlliistclU.Uiniis, yet iHlc of the ninst 
uset'ul, cif tile IKiilL; citizens of I'liil.ulelphi.i is tile w itlelv- 
known I'lesident ot tile l'eiins_\-l\ania R.iih-oau Corn- 
pan)', a position whose importance has few ecpials in 
the [places of trust and power witin'n the United States. 
Ml'. Roljcits worked himself up to this hiL;h position b\' 
incessant diligence and superior ability as a ci\il engineer 
and railroad manager. Born in 1<S33, on the farm in the 
close \icinit\- of Philadeljihia on which he still resides, 
he received his professional training in the Polytechnic 
Institute at Troy, New \'ork, :ind immediately upon 
graduating began that life as a raili'oatl man from which 
he has never since de\iated. 

His work began upon the mountain division of the 
Pennsylvania Railroad, upon which he was first emplo)'cd 
as a rodman. In 1S52, while still but nineteen },'ears of 
age, he was made assistant engineer of the Philadelphia 
and Erie Railroad, and during the ten \-ears that followed 
was ver\' acti\el_\' engaged in railroail engineei'ing, aiding 
in the location and construction of various roads, in- 
cluding the Sunbury and Erie, the North Penns\-l\-ania, 
the Western Pennsyhania, the Allentown and Auburn, 
the Mahano}- and Broad Mountain, the West Jersey, and 
others. On se\-eral of these he was employed as chief- 
engineer and brought them to completion. 

In 1862 Mr. Roberts, after this decade of varied ser- 
vice, returned to the Pennsyhania Railroad, his official 
jjosition being that of assistant to the president, Mr. J. 
lulgar Thomson. His term of duty in this position 



continued for seven years, during which his skill as an 
engineer and his excellent administrative powers proved 
so serviceable to the road that in 1869 he was promoted 
to the position of fourth \ice-president. Almost imme- 
diately afterwards he received a second promotion, being 
elected seconti vice-president. On June 3, 1874, Colonel 
Thomas A. Scott succeeded J. lulgar Tliomson in the 
presidency, and Mr. Roberts was advanced to the post 
of tust vice-pi'esident. 

In this capacity great interests were confided to liis 
care, all engineering questions relating to the construc- 
tic)n, extension, and improvement of the companv's far- 
extendeil lines coming under his control, in addition to 
which he hati the general supervision of the acct>unts 
through the comptroller. He also assisted the president 
in the management of the v.ii'ious roatls leasetl or con- 
trolled bv' the Pennsylvania Railroatl. Colonel Scott 
died in Mav', 1880, and Mr. Roberts was chosen to suc- 
ceed him as the president of the conipanv, an office to 
which he since been annually re electetl. This choice of 
the shareholders is not due t(.) any intluence e.xerted by 
! ovMiership of stock, — lor ^Ir. Roberts is not a man of great 
wealth, and has comparatively little financial interest in 
the road, — but is the result of the general recognition of 
his abilit)' ami probity, and the well-founded belief by 
the shareholders that his life ani.1 powers are unselfishly 
devoted to their interests and the best good of the great 
propert}' which the\^ liave placed under his control. 

Mr. Roberts is of Welsh descent, his ancestors having 
come from Bala in Wales more than two hundred years 
ago. As a memorial of this fact, he has given the name 
of Bala to his ancestial firm, anil ti:> the adjoining station 
on the Schuylkill branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, 
on the north-western edge of Fairmount Park. It is an 
interesting coincidence that (.)n the ver\- tlav that the first 
]5ritish train reached Bala in Wales, the first American 
train reached Bala in Penn.sylvania. On this farm is an 
humble residence, built bv Mr. Roberts's ancestors, and 
the most cherished of his possessions. In this house he 
was born, and in this house he still resides, aftbrding a 
remarkable instance of home-staying attachment amid 
the migratory impulse i^if Americans generally. He is 
not a lover of social distractions, and, while giving daily 
attention to the duties of his position at the Philadelphia 
office of the company, he returns every afternoon to his 
home, where, in the enjo\-ment of his fine librarv' and in 
leisure strolls over his well-tilled fields, he passes life in 
a calm enjoyment of books and nature that is richly 
worth)- of emulation. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



89 



FRANKLIN B. (iOWIiN. 

1'"ka.\ki.ix 1!i:mami.n Gowen, so well kmiwii anioiii; 
the acti\'c railruatl managers of recent years, was born 
in the city of Philadelphia in 1836, and educated at 
lunniitshnrij;, Mar)-hnid, and in tiie AIora\ i.ui school at 
I.iti/. I'ennsyKania. In ICS38 he t'litei'ed into a coal- 
ininiii;^ enter])ii>e. which he soon after ah.uidcined for the 
stud}' of law, and w.is in i860 adniilletl to the bar in 
Sclui)'lkill County, lie ]iractisctl thei'e for a number of 
xx'ars, rising" to distinction in his ])rofession. In 1862 he 
was elected district attorney of ,Scliu\-lkill Count)-, and 
held this office for two years, after which he resumed 
his |)ri\ate pi'actice. 

I lis connection with the Philadelphi.i and Readin^j 
RailroatI Company bei;an durini;' this juriod. he beint;- 
oiigas^ed as counsel tor that corixiration. lie became 
also coun-'el for the (iirard Coal Trust, which had large 
interests in the Schuylkill anthracite legioii. Mi-. (lowen's 
abilit)- in connection with the litigation of the railroail 
com|)an\-, ami the wide acquaintance which he ac(|uired 
of its interests anil affairs, brought his name and energ\- 
so prominentl}- before the stockholders of the road that 
in 186.^ he was electetl to the presidcnc\- of tJK- i"om[)an\-, 
a position to which he was annually re-elected till 1881. 

He (juickl)- shou-ed an active spirit of entei-prise which 
has ])ro\-eti tlie reverse of f )rtunate f )i- the interests of 
the road. In Decen-iber, 1871, he organized the Readijig 
Coal anil Iron Company, its purpose lieing to bring 
directly untler the control of the railroad compaii)- as 
many as possible of the important mining interests with 
which the road was connected. In carr\-ing out this 
purpose a large number of mining properties were pur- 
chased, the railroad prol)al)ly becoming the controller of 
the largest land and mining interests e\er established in 
this countr)-. The eiiterjjrise pro\-ed unfortunate. The 
railroad became deejily invoked financiall}-, its mining 
properties failed to }-ield the expected profits, and by 
1 88 1 its affairs had become so deepl}- depressed that it 
was obligetl to go into a receiver's hands. 

Mr. (joweii i)roposed a plan to reliexe the finances of 
the road, but it w-as not appro\-ed In- the stockholders, 
and he fiiled to be re-elected. In 1882, how-e\-er, he 
w-as again elected to the presidency, and held this office 
till 1884, when he was succeeded b)- Mr. (ieorge de B. 
Keim. Since that period the fortunes of the road ha\-e 
continued depressed, it haviiig more than once been 




restored to its stockliolders. and passetl again under the 
control of a receiver, in which unfortunate condition it 
remains to-day. 

Mr. (iowen was not brought more ])i-ominentIy before 
the public b\- his daring financial operations than by liis 
tlealings with the notorious " Mollie Maguire" orgain'/.a- 
tion, a secret band of law breakers which had ke[)t the 
coal regions in a state of terror fir twenty \-ears. lie 
determined to break up this organization, and finally 
succeeded, after a most e.Kciting exiicrience. A detective 
in disguise was sent into the region, joined the band, and 
learneil all its secrets, — among these the names of its 
leaders. A number of these were arrested, and in tiie 
trials which followed, in 1876, Mr. (i(.)wen acted as one 
of the counsel for the conimonwealth. I le [jiished the 
prosecution so vigoroush- that the accusetl were con- 
victed, their associates frightened, and the organization 
finally broken up. 

In 1872, Mr. Gowen was a member of the Constitu- 
tional Convention of Pennsyhania, served on some of its 
most important committees, and was chairman of that on 
Revision and Adjustment, in which position he shaped to 
a considerable extent the work of constitutional revision. 
Me was closely related in business and a warm jiersonal 
frieiKJ of William H. Vanderbilt, anti timing a visit to 
New York, in 1885, Mr. Vanderbilt fell ilead in his arms. 
Mr. Gowen ilied in Washington in December, 1889. 



90 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




CHARLES E. CADWALADER. 

CiiAKLES v.. CAinvALAUick was boi'ii in I'hiladclphia, 
November 5, 1839. Me yratluated at the Uni\ersit\- of 
Pennsylvania, in the Department of Arts, in 1858, and 
in tliat of Medicine in 1861. 

The Civil War breakiny out a few weeks after his grad- 
ii.ition, nio\eil with the p.itriotie spirit of the time, a 
promised api)ointment as physician in one of the princi- 
pal hospitals of the city was set asiile, and he at once 
enlisted in the E'irst Cit\' Troojj of riiiladelphia, a time- 
honored cor])s of Re\()lutionar)' origin, ser\ing with it in 
connection with the Mfth Regular Cavalry, under Colonel 
George H. Thomas, in the campaign of the Shenandoah 
of that year. Ui^on the expiration of this term of ser- 
vice he was offered a position in the militar)- famil)' of 
General Meade, but, preferring the ca\alr\- serxice, he ac- 
cepted a first lieutenancy in the Sixth Pennsylvania Ca\-- 
alr\'. L'pon the occasion of the removal of the army to 
the Peninsul.i, the captain of his conipanv being detained 
through ill health, the command devolved on Lieutenant 
Cadwalader, who was shortly promoted several files to a 
captaincy of one of the companies. At Antietam, where 
his regiment was one of the brigade in the charge resulting 
in the capture of the central bridge over the Antietam, he 
received a slight wound, which, however, did not incapaci- 
tate him for ilut}'. In Stuart's raitl into Pennsylvania, in 
the fall of 1862, Colonel Cadwalader was the first to en- 
counter his column and give intelligence of its arrival at 
W'oodsborough, near P'rederick, Maryland, on its retreat 
to the Potomac. 

He entered the town alone, and, jxissing liimself off 
as one of Stuart"s staff, had the address to obtain positive 
information of the presence of Stuart's whole corps and 
the direction of their march. He served with his regi- 
ment until appointed b)- General Hooker one of liis 



aides-de-camp when assigned to the command of the 
army in 1863. He continued thei'eafter to serve with the 
general staff of the army, General Meade having also 
appointed him one of his aides on succeeding Hooker in 
the conmiaiul. General Hooker, in recommending him 
for a brevet major, speaks of him as "especially dis- 
tinguished for his gallantrv' and meritorious serv-ices in 
the battle of Chancellorsville, i\Iav 3, 1863, and in the 
cavalrv' fight at l^randv Station, June 9, 1863," adding 
that " he serv ed with marked zeal and devotion." Gen- 
eral Meade, in the recommendation for his second brevet 
as lieutenant-colonel, sav's, " I cannot speak too strongly 
of the activit)', zeal, and energy displav'ed b\' Captain 
Cadwalader during his services under me, which em- 
braced the battles of Gettv'sburg, Wilderness, Spottsvd- 
vania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, and operations around 
Petersburg," and recommeiuls tlKit he be brevetted lieu- 
tenant-colonel "for distinguished gallantry and good 
condLict at the battle of Gettysburg and in subsequent 
operations, including the campaign from the Rapidan to 
the James, in 1864, and the siege of Petersburg." 

Colonel Cadwalader comes of a family distinguished 
in the militarv annals of the country. His father, John 
Cadwalader, an eminent jurist and judge of the United 
States District Court, was captain of a company formed 
at the time of the Native American riots of 1 S44. The 
latter's brother, George Cadwalader, gained much dis- 
tinction as brigadier in command of the troops engaged 
in quelling the riots, as a brigadier in the regular army 
in the Mexican War, and as major-general of volunteers 
in the Civil War. Colonel Cadwalader'.s grandfather, 
Thom.is Cadwalader, was a general eifficer in command 
of the "advanced Light Brigade" in the W'ar of 1812, 
and for manv- years major-general of Pennsylvania Mi- 
litia. The latter's father, lohn Cadwalader, was of Rev- 
olutionar}- fame as a general officer, and one of Wash- 
ington's most trusted friends and militarv- advisers. 
Colonel Lambert Cadwalader, of the Continental arm)', 
was a brother of the latter. Dr. Thomas Cadwalader, 
father of General John Cadwalader, was chairman of the 
Board of War known as the " Provincial Commissioners" 
in the French and Intlian W.ir ( 1754-63), as well as a 
member of the Governor's Council. Though advanced 
in years, he took a leading part in the Revolutionary 
struggle; was chairman of the great tea-meeting held 
at Philadelphia in 1773, and rendered valuable services 
in the medical department. Colonel Clement Biddle, 
also of Revolutionai-y renown, was a great-grandfather 
of Colonel Cadwalader. 

After the close of the Civil War Colonel Cadwalader 
received the appointment as clei'k in charge of the Bank- 
ruptcy Department of the U. S. District Court, which 
he held for a number of j-ears. In 1872 he resumed the 
profession of medicine, in which he is still engaged. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



91 



DAVID F. CONOVER. 

Amoxc tlie carl)- settlers of Amcricd was a fainih' of 
Kohenhovcns from Holland. This name, like those of tlie 
early Dutch and Swedish immit,rrants in L,^eneral, t^radu- 
allv became Americanized, its final form being Conoxer. 
One branch of tiie familj- made its wa}- into central Penn- 
s)-lvania, and tliere in tlie city of Dan\illc was born the 
subject of our sketcli, Da\id !•". Cono\er, on September 
19, 1840. His education was received in the Danville 
public schools, and at the ai^c of seventeen he came to 
I'hiladelphia, uliere he obtained a position with W'arnc 
& Co., manufacturing jewellei's, on Thirtl Street abo\-c 
Chestnut. 

He remaineil in the employ of this firm till 1866, gain- 
ing a complete knowledge of the business, ,uid in this 
year obtained an interest in the concern, entering into 
]3artnership with William B. Warne, under the firm name 
of William \\. W.irne & Co. The business was large!)- 
conducted b)- Mr. Cono\er, who took charge of all its 
details, and in 1^7,1, on the retirement of Mr. Warne, 
became the controlling heail of the establishment. The 
firm name was now changed to Da\id F. Cono\-er & Co., 
— Mr. Conover's partners being B. Frank Williams and 
C. Edgar Righter, — and the business was located on the 
south-east corner of Se\enth aiul Chestnut .Streets, where 
it still remains. The house of Warne & Co. had been 
one of the oldest in the Phila<lel[>hia manufacturing jew-- 
elr\' trade, and its business has steailil)- increased since 
it fell into Mr. Conover's hands. This is particularly the 
case in regard to its tratle in American watches, the firm 
having for )-ears been agents for the Waltham Watch 
Compau)-, of Waltham, Massacluisetts. Nothing need 
be saiti here as to the fame of the W'altliam watcli 
movements, which are of world-wide |-eputation. It will 
suffice to sa)- th.it Mr. Cono\er has gixeii s[)ecial atten- 
tion to this branch of his business, antl has de\-eloped a 
very e.xtensi\-e traile in these famous watciies. 

About twent)- \eais ago he married Miss Mar\- Kettle, 
an English lad\- of good birth, and now has two children, 
a son and a daughter. For many \-ears he and his w ife 
ha\e been devoteti to the collection of ait treasures, and 
to-da)- have a costly and beautiful museum of rare works 
of art in their house on Race Street opposite Logan 
Scjuare. The collection embrr.ces haiulsome paintings, 



x^ 




/ 



rare e.Kamjjles of pl.ite ;ind |)orcelain, fine s])ecimens of 
bric-a-brac, and other attracti\e examples of American 
and foreign art. Mr. Conover lias also been an enthu- 
siastic collector of clocks and musical instruments, hi.s 
collection of the former being one of the finest in the 
cit)-. His children have been trained into a lo\-e of 
painting, music, and the beautiful in art work, and en- 
couraged in that love of artistic surroundings which is 
one of the best elements of a well-rounded education. 

Mr. Conover is a dcN'otee of out-door sports, and is 
fond of horses, dri\ing fast teams, l)oth in this cit)- and 
at his summer jiome in Long l^ranch, where he occupies 
one of the famous Holh-wood cottages. He is a warm 
friend of Ah'. John Hoe)', the wealth)- founder of the 
Hollywood coterie, and has man)- other close friends at 
that sea-shore habitat, hi I'hiladelpliia, lie is a member 
of the Union League, the ^Vrt Club, and the ALanufac- 
turers' Club, — his connection with these tliree bodies ex- 
pressing his political affiliation, his line of art, and his 
connection with manufacturing interests. He is also a 
member of the rac)- I*"i\e o'Clock Club, whose historian 
speaks of him as "a thoroughl)- desirable and liappy 
companion, a live and witt\- conversationalist, a connois- 
seur of \-iands, and a bitter opponent to the stereotyped 
filet lie Inviify 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




ROBERT \\ DECHHRT. 

Robert P. Deciiekt, born in Rc;idin<^, Penns\-lvania, 
August 1 6, 1842, His maternal great-grandfather, (jen- 
eral Andrew Porter, was a soldier of renown during the 
days (if the American Re\'(ilulion, having participated in 
that heroic struggle as commander of the First Pennsyl- 
vania Artiller}-. General Dechert's grantlfather. Judge 
Robert porter, after serving in the Revnlutiiuiary War 
as a lieutenant in his father's regiment, servetl thirt\- 
years on the bencli. Judge Porter was a brother of the 
Governor, P)a\i(_I R. Porter, of Pennsylvania. Another 
brother was John M. Porter, of l^aston, whi) was ap- 
pointed Secretary of War by President Tyler. Still 
another brother was George B. Porter, who was Governor 
of Michigan. 

Miss TikKI, of Virginia, whom Abraham Lincoln mar- 
ried, was a descendant of thi-^ Porter family. 

General Dechert's fiither, Elijah Dechert, was a lawver 
of high standing at the bar in Reading. General Dech- 
ert was educated at the classical acadenn- of Professor 
E. D. Saunders, and a grammar school, and afterwards 
the Central High School of Philadelphia, from which he 
graduated in Februar\-, 1 861. It was his intention to 
begin the .study of law, but the war of the Rebellion 
changed his plans. Although not yet of age, he offered 
his services as a volunteer. Mustered into service in 
June, 1 86 1, he was assigned to the Twenty-ninth Regi- 
ment, Pennsv'hania Volunteers. 

On January 8, 1S62, while yet under twenty years of 
age, he was commissioned first lieutenant. On April 23, 
1863, he was made captain of his company, and in 
November of the following year was promoted to the 
rank of major. On March 13, 1865, he was brevetted 
lieutenant-colonel "for distinguished and meritorious ser- 
vices iluring the war." He served in turn as an aide on 



the staff of Colonel George L. Andrews, Third Brigade, 
Second Division of the Twelfth Arm\- Corps ; as aide to 
Brigadier-General Thomas II. Ruger, of the Third Brig- 
ade, First Division of same corps, and now of the regular 
service: as aide on the staff of Major-General A. S. 'W'il- 
liams, Twentieth Corps ; and ultimately on the staff of 
that daring and gallant commander. General Henry W. 
Slocum, of the Armv of Georgia. For a time he was 
with General N. P. Banks, and participated in the many 
encounters between that commander and the famous 
" Stonewall" Jackson ; and he took a conspicuous part in 
the disastrous campaign through X'irginia under General 
Pope. In the battle of Antictam he performed admirable 
Work under General George B. McClellan, and at Chancel- 
lorsville distinguished himself b\' courage on that bloody 
field. At Gettv"sburg, as assistant adjutant-general of the 
First Division, Tv\'elfth Ami}- Corps, his heroic services 
merited and receiveil Ix^norable mention; and on everv' 
field of carnage in which his command was engaged dur- 
ing the unprecedented aiul arduous campaign, known as 
Sherman's March to the .Sea, he was at his post of duty, 
a willing and able participant in the work on hand. 

He went to the war a bo\- fresh from school, and re- 
turned at the close iif hostilities a vetei'an of four vears' 
constant, active, and hazardous service, with the experi- 
ence of manv hard-fought battles behind him. He con- 
nected himself with the Gra\- Reserves of Philadelphia, 
antl in November, 1S67, was elected captain of Com- 
panv Y. 

In November, 1S69, he became a member of the re- 

nowneil Mrst Troop. Philadeljihia Cit\- Cavalry, of which 

in 1870 he became a sergeant. In 1873 he was promoted 

I to the rank of first sergeant, and in 1876 was advanced 

to cornet. 

But it was in the infantry service and in the Second 
Regiment that his services to the State, in perfecting and 
promoting the citizen soldierv' known as the National 
Guard, have been most effective. 

In 1878 he was elected colonel of the regiment. He 
was twice re-elected colonel, and in I 890 was appointed 
brigadier-general of the National Guard of Penns\-lvania. 

In 1S84 General Dechert was elected City Controller 
of Philadel[)hia. That j'ear Blaine received in Philadel- 
jjhia, foi' Presitlent, a majority of thirty thousand, while 
General Dechert, running on the Democratic ticket, was 
elected by sixteen thousand majority. In 1887 he was 
re-elected City Controller by a large majority. 

General Dechert was unmarried. Pie was identified 
with a larsje number of organizations, and was President 
of the Sagamore Club of Philadelphia, and a member 
of the Penn Club, the Art Club, Bachelors' Barge Club, 
and various other social organizations. He was one of 
the earh' members of the Military Order of the Lov'al 
Legion. General Dechert died May 12, 1894. 



MAKERS OF I'll lI.ADlil.ri II,, 



93 



GEORGE w. cnii.ns. 

Gi:OKc.i'. W. Ciiir.Ds, the cniincnl I'liiladclphia ])lii- 
lanthro])ist, was lo(.)rn in HaUimnrc, May \2, 1XJ9, ami 
recei\X'tl his cdiicatimi in the pnljlic srhimls df that city. 
W'ht-n thirteen \'ears nf a;^a' lie nhtaiiuil a ])i)sitiiin in the 
United States na\-_\-, aiK.l ser\ed there fni- fifteen months, 
after which he came to Philadelphia, w liei'i' he obtained 
emplovment as ei'rand-l.)o\' in a bimk store. Here he 
soon ac(|iiired such kno\vlctl_i;e of hooks that he was 
tnistetl with the important duty of attendint; auction 
sales and purchasing hooks for his employer. IIi' alter- 
wards attended the great ti'atle sales at Xew York and 
]i;)ston. The bo\- had in him those essential elements of 
success, diligence, judgment, and enterprise, and when 
but eighteen years of age he opi_'iU'd a book store lor 
himself, with a feu hundred dollais 1k' h.id s.ued. 'I his 
was in the building at Third ,uiil ('JKstnnl .Streets, then 
occupied b)- the /'///'//(■ Li-iii^rr. 

His business ]irosi)ered, and shortly bef >re he became 
of age he entered into p.irtner-^hip with Robeit 1^. Peter- 
son (his future' f ither-in-la\\ ), tlu- original funi name of 
R. ]'l Peterson & Co. being soon changed to Childs & 
Peterson. The new firm entt-i-ed energeticalK' into the 
publishing business, and with maiked success. One of 
the first books publisheil was I)i-. Kane's "Arctic V.x- 
plorations," which had so gre.it a sale that within a \-ear 
they paid Dr. Kane a copyright of nearly se\-ent_\- thou- 
sand dollars. ( )ther works issut'd inchuled 15ou\ier's j 
" Law P)ictionar_\-," Peterson's " l'"auiiliai- .Science," .Vlli- 
bone's " Diction, u-y of .Authors," ttc, many of which 
had a v-er\- large sale. In I S60 Mr. Peterson I'etired, 
and Mr. Chikis became connectiid with the luuise ot J. 
B. Lip[)incott & Co. After a \-ear, he resumeil business 
tor himself issuing the Xii/ic///// . \liiiauar and the Atiicn- 
((1)1 Publishers Circular with great success. 

During this time he was steadily coming nearer to the 
accomplishment of an ambition he h,ul long entertained, 
the pos.scssion of the Public I.cds^vr newspaper. In 1864 
it was losing money rapidl)-, antl the ])roprietors accepted 
Mr. Childs's offer to jjurchase it. Put the new propri- 
etor soon showed how it could be published at a profit. 
He doubled the price and increased the ad\ I'rtising rates. 
Subscribers and achertiseis at once lell oil kirgel}-, but 
Mr. Childs lield to his point, except that lie reduced the 
wcekl)- price from twel\-e to ten cents. The l.cdi^rr had 
become a necessit}- in man_\" families, and soon began to 
recover its lost patrons, and in a short time was on a 
solid paying basis. The new proprietor worked on it 
with energ)-, suj^ierintending e\-erything, and not lea\ing 
the editorial rooms till midnight. He made a number of 
changes in the cliaractcr of the jjaper, elevating its tone, 
excluding all advertisements tainted with immoralit}-. 
P'rom that time forward it grew rapicIK- in circulation, and 
has continued to grow imtil it has attained its present 




highly luciati\e and pr(}minent position. In i .S66 the 
growth of the business demanded more ample accommo- 
dations, anti the large building at .Sixth and Chestnut 
Streets, the present home of the paper, was erected, and 
opened (in |nne 20, iS6j. Phe later history of the 
Public Ledger is funili.ir to all Philadelphians. 

i\Ir. ("hilds w.is pre-eminentl_\- a public-spirited and 
phil.uithidpic citi/en. IP- w.is one of the originators of 
P'airmoinit I'.uk, contributing largel)- towards the [)ur- 
cliase of gmund for park' purjjoses. He subscribed liber- 
ally tow aitls the Centennial I'^xposition anil other purposes, 
and in 1 S6S established anil aL)undantly endowed a burial 
lot in W'ootlland Cemetery for the Tx'pographical .Societj' 
of Philadel[ihia. His generosity was not confined to 
Philadelphia, but was worliPw ide. Paighuul is indebted to 
him for a fine window in Westminster Abbe\- in memory 
of the [)oets Cow|)er and Herbert, and one to Milton in St. 
Margaret's Church, Westminster; a monument to Leigh 
Hunt, and a handsome Shakespeare memorial fountain at 
Stratfonl-on-.Avon. In America he honored with monu- 
ments the gra\es of Ldgar A. Poe and the astronomer 
Proctor, ami established a home for aged and disabled 
]M-inters at Colorado Sjjrings. These were in addi- 
tion to ccuuitless private benefactions, which have made 
his name almost a s\-non\'ni for quiet chaiitx'. He was 
\ice ])resident and, after the death of the founder, prcsi- 
ilent of the Drexel Institute, the great benefaction of his 
business partner ami life-long friend, ,\nthon_\' J. Drexel. 

Mr. Childs possessed a valuable librar\' of rare books 
and other literar_\- treasures, embracing autograpiis, let- 
ters, and manuscripts of jjriceless worth, among them 
the original manuscript of " Our Mutual P'riend," signed 
by Charles Dickens. Many of these are deposited at 
the Drexel Institute. He died, after a sudden and short 
illness, I''ebruar\' 3, 1S94, 



94 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




RICHARD G. UELLERS. 

Richard Gardiner Oellers was born in Philadelphia, 
August 5, 1843. His father, James S. ( )cllers, was en- 
traired in the trrain business at Pine Street antl Delaware 
A\'enue for many x'ears, until his death in 1S72. His 
mother was the daughter of Dr. Richard Gardiner, who 
was one of the most prominent homteopathic physicians of 
Philadelphia. The\- educatetl their son in pri\-ate schools 
of the city, his school life ending in 1858, when, at fifteen 
years of age, he began his business experience in a w hole- 
sale dry-goods house. With this establishment he re- 
mained connected till May, 1S70, when, on the founding 
by William J. Swain of the PiiIjUc Record newspaper, he 
accepted the position of business manager of the new 
enterprise, and managed it with great efficiency during 
Mr. Swain's period of ownership, At a subsetjuent date 
the paper changed its name and proprietorship, being pur- 
chased by William M. Singerh', who altered its title to 
Tin- Philadelphia Record. Mr. ( )ellers continued to oc- 
cup\- the position of business manager under the new 
regime, and also became treasurer. His connection with 
the Record still continues. 

During this period he became officially connected with 
the House of Correction, being elected a member of its 
Board of Managers in June, 1875, to fill the unexpired 
term of Samuel R. Leonard. He was re-electetl at the 
end of this term, and was re-elected for a third term, which 
had not expired in 1887, when the Board was abolished 



by the Bullitt bill going into effect. At a more recent 
date, upon the formation of the Pennsylvania Nautical 
School, for the education of young seamen, Mr. Oellers 
was appointed by Ma\-or P'itler a member of its Board 
of Directors, and was subsequently reappointed to this 
position by Ma)-or Stuart, and still continues as a 
Director. 

In 1891, when the office of City Treasurer became 
vacant by the resignation of its then incumbent, Mr. 
Bardsle)-, the County Commissioners elected Mr. Oellers 
to fill this important municipal office, an election which 
was confirmed by a similar action on the part of the City 
Councils. A question arising, however, as to the power 
of appointment in a case like this, it came before the 
Supreme Court of the State for adjudication, the decision 
rendered being that the appointing power was vested in 
the Go\-ern<ir and not in the Cit\- Coimcils. Go\-ernor 
Pattison appointed a Democratic candidate for the posi- 
tion, and Mr. Oellers \acated the position, which for a 
time he had \ei-\' satisfactoril}- filled. His temporary 
efficient management of this office, and the dissatisfaction 
felt b\' the members of his party at his removal, render 
it highl)- probable that at the next election Mr. Oellers 
will be restored b\- the \otes of the people of Philadel- 
phia to the office for which he is so eminenth^ cjualified 
by education and experience. 

In former \-ears Mr. ( )ellers took an active interest in 
Freemasonry, and has occupied high stations in that im- 
portant order. At present he is Past Master of Crescent 
Lodge, No. 493; Past High- Priest of Temple Chapter, 
No. 248 ; and Past PLminent Commander of St. Alban 
Commandery, No. 47, Knights Templar. 

Mr. Oellers is a member of se\'eral social organiz.itions, 
prominent among which is the Columbia Club, at Broad 
and Oxford Streets, which has o\-er fi\e hundred mem- 
bers, composed of leatling citizens in the mercantile, pro- 
fes.sional, and financial world. At its last election, Mr. 
Oellers was cliosen second vice-president, after a service 
of two years on its Board of Governors. Mr. Oellers takes 
an active interest in the affairs of Grace ]5aptist Church, at 
Broad and Berks Streets, the largest church in the city, 
seating o\-er three thousand persons ; he is President of 
its Board of Trustees, also Trustee of Temple College, 
an institution for the education of the working classes. 

Mr. Oellers married Emma A. McMain, and the\- ha\e 
five children : James M., Richard G., Florence (wife of 
luiwin C. Wolff), Gertrude, and Ralph S. 



3fAKERS OF PniLADFJ.PI//A. 



95 



CHARLHS H. HTTING. 

Charles E. Etting, second son of l'".(lw,iid J. luting, 
of Philadelphia, and I'hilippa Minis, of Savannah, was 
born in Philadelphia, P"ehruar_\- 5, I S44. He was mus- 
tered into the ser\'icc of the L'nited .States as second 
lieutenant, Compan\- D, One Hundred and Twenty-first 
Regiment Pennsylvania X'olunteers. August 4, 1S62, 
assigned to the I'irst Brigade, Third 1 )i\isi(>n. I'irst Corps, 
Arm\- of the Potomac, joining it near Sharpsburg after 
the battle of Antielani, and served continuoirsly there- 
with, participating in all its niovenieiits ,uul \ai'ied duties 
until placed on detached seivice. 

December 13, 1862, at the l^attle of P'redericksbLu-g, 
after supporting Batter\- C, I'ifth I'. S. Artillci\-, Lieuten- 
ant Putting's regiment ad\-aiiced with the division under 
General George G. Meade under heavy lire, driving the 
enemy from its position; thence up the heights in front, 
and held the grouiul until ll.uiked ami f>rced back by 
overwhelming numbers, eaining from (ieneral Meade 
upon the fiekl the exclamation, " Well tlone. One Plun- 
dred and Tvvent\--first ; good enough for one day!" 

May 2, 1862, at the battle of Chancellorsville, they 
marched from the west bank of the Rappahannock River ' 
imder fire, crossing at L'nitetl St.ites P'ord, reaching the 
front at 1 o'clock a.m., Ma_v 3, ;md there remained until 
withdrawn. May 6. Whilst on the march into Penns)-1- 
v.mia. Lieutenant P'tting was tlet.iiled acting aide-de-camp 
Plrst I-irigade, and did duty as such at the battle of Gettys- 
burg, July 1-3, 1863. Incident to the frightful loss of 
Jul\- I, his regiment having over seventv per cent, killed, 
woundetl, oi- missing, and onlv" one field and one line 
officer unhurt. Lieutenant luting, .it Colonel Riddle's ; 
request, resimied commantl of his companv- Julv 4, and 
so remained until, upon reporting at Philatlelphi,!, .\ugust 
29, in compliance with War P)epartment circular, Adju- 
tant-General's Office, he was assigned to staff duty by 
Brigadier- General John P. Hatch, and relieved therefrom 
April 8, 1864, at the recpiest of Captain James Biddle, 
Si.\tecnth \] . S. Lifantry, commanding Camp Cadvvalader, 
with orders to report to him. He was pronioteil to cap- 
tain. Company D, from ALarch 15, 1863, detailed August 
28, 1S64, to perfect the organization of the new Penn- 
sv'lvania regiments then forming at Philadelphia, and 
September 17, 1864, as acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen- 
eral of Camp Cadwalader. Captain P'.tting's .application 
of December 13, 1864, to be relieved having been re- 
turned disapproved, he rem. lined on duty until discharged 
June 2, 1865, by reason of the termination of the war. 

Colonel Chapman Biddle wrote from Philadelphia, 
ALiy 22, 1865, to his Iv\cellenc\- the President of the 
United States : 

"I have the honor to recommend fur an apijointment 
in the regular militarv- service of the United .States, Cap- 
t.iin Charles V.. Pitting, of the One Hundred and Twentv- 




first Regiment of Penns\-Ivania X'olunteers. C.ipt.iin Lt- 
ting entered the volunteer service as a second lieutenant 
nearl}- three vears since, and, during the time I commanded 
the One Hundred and Twenty-first Pennsylvania Volun- 
teers, dischargetl all his duties as an officer with alacrity 
and fidelity. His service in the field in the several battles 
in which he w.is present obtained for him the commen- 
dation of his superi<ir officers. As an educated officer, 
one thoroughl)' conversant with his duties, he would, in 
my opinion, be an acciuisition to the regular service." 

Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Biddle wrote imder same 
date, similarK' addressed ; 

" I have the honor to recommend Captain Charles \\. 
Etting for an appointment in the armv of the United 
States. Captain Puting entered the service in the ( )ne 
Hundred and Twcntv-first Regiment Pennsylvania X'ol- 
unteers in 1862, and served as second lieutenant, first 
lieutenant, and cajjtain, acting also as regimental adjutant, 
and on the staff of the brigade commander. I le has since 
filled an office of responsibility in this cit\'. During a 
long period of this service it is within m_v personal knowl- 
edge that Captain Pitting, as well in the camp as in the 
field, conducted himself not only with much merit, but 
with distinction in ever\' position he was required to fill. 
His services ;U l'"redericksburg and Gettysburg were noted 
b_v his commander, and it is my duty as well as a pleasure 
to ,idd my ti'sliniony of his att.iinments and capabilitv to 
[jerform the duties of any office he ma\' ask." Upon the 
termination of the war Captain Etting engaged in business 
in, and still resides in, his native city, where he is a well- 
known citizen and member of the Pennsv'lvania Societ\- of 
the Sons of the Revolution, Society of the P'irst Arm\- 
Corps, Society of the Army of the Potomac, Military Order 
of the Loyal Legion of the United States, and Post 1, Grand 
Arm\- of the Republic, Department of Pennsylvania. 



96 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




PERSIFOR FRA/.HR. 

I'kksifok 1'"ka/.ek was bum in I'hiladclphia, I'a , Jul_\- 
24. 1S44, and was the only son of I'rolcssor John hrics 
Frazx-r, LL.D., vice-provost of the University of Penn- 
s\-lvania, and Charlotte Cave; t^i-eat-grandMin ot Bng- 
adier-rieneral I'ersifor Frazer, lieutenant-ct>lonel Fifth 
I'ennsylvania Line, and L;'iand<on of Robei't Frazer, a 
distinguished lawyer and member of the Legislature. 
His mother was the d.mghter t)f Thomas Cave and of 
Sarah, daughter of RLijor John Hollinshead, Thinl New- 
Jersey Line, and member of the Cincinnati Societx'. He 
graduated from the L'ni\ersity of IVnnsyKania Jul\- 3, 
1862; joined a corps of the Coast Survey assigned to 
the na\y at Port Ro\'al. He assisted in two reconnois- 
sances by night under the guns of Fort Wagner and the 
rebel picket-boats, just before the attack b_\- the fleet in 
January, 1863. (Ordered north, he joined the P'irst City 
Troop, Philadelphia, for emergenc\- service at Gett\-sburg, 
during the invasion of Pennsylvania, June and July, 1863. 
After being mustered out at the close of this campaign he 
joined the navy in the IMississippi squadron, first as aide 
to Captain Pennock commanding, and later as watch-offi- 
cer on board the " Benton," taking part in numerous 
expeditions, and after the war receiving an honorable 
discharge. j 

After three years at the Ro.\-al Saxon School of Mines 
at P'reiberg in .Saxony, passing with credit the examination j 
in mineralog}' conducted in the German language, he re- 
turned in 1869 to the United States and joined Hayden 
as metallurgist and mineralogist of the United States Geo- 
logical Sur\'e\- part}- of that year during its exploration of 
Colorado and New Mexico, writing the report on these 
subjects. He was elected instructor in natural philosophy ! 
and chemistry in the Uni\-ersity of Pennsyhania, and pro- 
moted to assistant professor the next year. In 1872, on 



the death of Professor John F. Frazer, he taught the senior 
and junior classes in his father's place, as well as the 
sophomore and freshmen classes. 

In 1874 he was appointed Assistant Geologist in the 
State Geological Sur\-ey of Pennsylvania, and directed 
the southeastern division under Professor Lesley for eight 
years, contributing geological maps of York, Adams, and 
Chester Counties, besides four \olumes to the reports. 

He was the first to discover the cause of the difference 
in color of the moon by day and by night. 

He de\ised a process of detecting forgeries by com- 
po.site photograph)-. While in France, during 1881-82, 
he sustained the examination for the doctorate before the 
faculty of Lille. Pie wrote and ]jrinted in P'rench a thesis, 
and subsequently passed the public examination conducted 
in the P'rench language before the government commis- 
sion, receiving the first doctorate " es-Sciences Naturelles" 
ever "iven to a foreigner, and the one hundretl and ninety- 
fifth of this degree which had up to tiiat tin-ie been granted. 
He was secretary of the American Committee of the 
International Congress of Geologists, and editor of the 
joint reports which were presented to the London session 
in 1888, himself writing that on the " Archean," and at 
this ses.sion w,is elected \ice-president of the Congress 
representing the United States. 

He was appointed correspondent of the Reichs.nistalt 
in \'ienna in 1886; corresponding member ot the New 
York Academy of Science in 1S85. In 1890 he received 
from the P'rench go\-ernment the decoration of the palms 
of the Academy as C)fiicier de ITnstruction Publique. 

He is a life-member of the American Philosophical So- 
ciety (1871); Pennsylvania Historical Society; Academy 
of Natural Sciences (1870): Fellow Am. Assn. for Adv. 
of Science; Brit. Assn. for Adv. of Science (1884) ; Frank- 
lin Institute; Am. Ins. of Min. Eng. ; P'ellow- and one of 
the founders of the Society of American Geologists; one 
of the editors of the Fraiik/iii Institute Journal, 1 88 1-92 ; 
one of the editors and proprietors of the Anicru-an Geol- 
ogist ; professor of chemistry of the p-ranklin Institute 
( 1 881-1893), and of the Penna. Horticultural Society. 

He has published four volumes of the State Geological 
Reports of the Second Geological Survey of Pennsyl- 
vania ; Tables for the Determination of Minerals (three 
editions); Report to the International Congress on the 
Archean of America. 

In the Transactions anil Proceedings of the .\merican 
Philosophical Societ\- he has printed sevent\--one papers ; 
in the Proceedings of tlie .\cademy of Natural Sciences, 
t\\ent)--three papers ; in the Transactions of the American 
Institute of Mining PIngineers, thirty-two papers ; in the 
Trans, of the British Assn. for Adv. of Science, two papers; 
besides many articles in the scientificjournalsandelsew-here. 
He married Isabella Nevins Whelen in i87i,by w-hom 



he has two sons and one daughter now li\-int 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



97 



DAX'in RITTENHOUSE. 

The earliest and one of the most notable scientists of 
Philadelphia oriijin was the eminent astronomer and 
mathematician who forms the subject of the ])resent 
sketch, D.uid Rittenhousc, born at (ieiniantow n in [ 
April, 1732. His father was a farmer, and dreamed of I 
no hii^hcr occupation for his son ; but the bo\-'s native j 
talent manifesteil itself \-cr_\- earl)- in life, and his [jredilec- 
tion for mathematics was so threat that he is saitl, while 
at work on the fu'iii.to ha\'e co\'eretl fences, stones, plouyh- 
handles, and other objects with matheni.itical calcLilations 
in pencil or chalk. At the age of se\en he built a minia- 
ture water-mill. At the age of seventeen he constructed 
a clock, without assistance from any pers(jn. ISy the age 
of eighteen he had made himself master of Newton's 
" I'rincipia," and in his nineteenth \-ear disco\ered for 
himself the method of fluxions, without any itiea that it 
was alread}- known, or an}- kmiwledge of the sharp con- 
troversy that had arisen between Newton and Leibnitz 
for the honor of this disco\'ery. The dispute between 
these great men was finally settled b\- the proi.if that each 
of them had discovered the method. It was left for a 
farmer's boy of nineteen to be the thii-i.1 in this important 
discover)'. 

Quitting farniing at an early age, he set u\^ the business 
of clock- and mathematical-instrument making near his 
father's farm. His sister had niarried \\'illian-| Barton, an 
educatcil Irish gentleman, who encouraged and assisted 
the boy in his studies, w hich he prosecuted so continu- 
ou.sly, day and night, that his health was permanentl)- 
injured. About 1767 he constructed an orrer)-, which 
was purchased by the College of New Jersey, at Prince- 
ton. Thomas Jefferson saw this instrun-ient, and declared 
that its young maker was one who, " as an artist, had 
exhibited as great proofs of mechanic genius as the world 
had ever produced." 

In 1769 occurred one of those rare e\-ents in the astro- 
nomical world, a transit of \'enus. This was obser\-ed 
with success b)- the ardent astronomer, and in the same 
year he made to the American Philosoi)hical Societ)- his 
celebrated " Report on Obser\'ations of the Transit of 
Venus," a paper which attracted the attention of the 
whole scientific world. The platform from which Ritten- 
housc obserxeil this transit was erecteil in Indejiendence 
Square. It remained there until 1776, when it ser\-ed as 
the scene of another interesting e\-ent, that of the reading 
of the Declaration of Independence to tiie people assem- 
bled in the square. 

After selling his first orrery, Rittenhouse immediately 




constructed another, fir use in his astronomical calcula- 
tions. This is now- in the L'nixersit)- of Penns)-l\-ania. 
In 1770 he remoxed to Philadelphia, where he becan-ie a 
n-iember of the Philosophical Societ)', antl tUu'ing the 
ren-iaintler of his life was a freiiuent contributor to its 
Tririisdc lions. In 171;! he became its president, an office 
in which he followed Benjamin I-'ranklin and was suc- 
ceeded by Thomas Jefferson. 

In 1773 he was made chairman of a committee to 
e.\,ii-nine the first steam-engine built in this countr)'. The 
committee reported fuorably on its principle, but the 
engine soon broke tlown from its in-iperlect construction. 
At a later date he was empIo)'ed b\' the go\-ernment of 
Pennsyh-ania on se\eral occasions as a commissioner in 
the settlement of the boundar)' lines between Peiins)!- 
\'ania and the atljoining States, antl in 1777 he was elected 
Tieasurer of Penns)'K-ania, which office he held till 1789. 
In 1792 he became the first Director of the Mint, then 
just started in Philadel[)hia. 

Having organized this institution b\' arduous labors, 
he resigi-ied his position in 1795, on account of ill liealth. 
In the same )-ear he was chosen a Fellow of the Ro)'al 
Society of London. He dietl in the following \'ear, 
June, 1796. "Were we callecl upon," says Renwick, 
"to assign him a rank among the philosophers whom 
America has protluced, we should place hin-|, in point 
of scientific merit, as second to Franklin alone. He 
had shown himself the equal, in jjoint of learning and 
skill as an observer, to an)' jiractical astronomer then 
liviu"-." 



13 



98 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




ISAAC NORRIS. 

The American career of the persnii wliosc lite story 
we have now to tell began with a tale (if sad disaster. 
His father, a Quaker in fiiith, had settled at I'urt Royal, 
in laniaiea. Not liking his new home, he sent his son 
Is.iae, in 1690, to the new refuge of his eo-religionists, 
in PennsyKania, \.o report i_>n its atl\-antages. \i>iing 
Norris niaile the jnurne}-, retunietl with a favorable re- 
port, and Wcis Imrrified to leain that dining his absence 
his father and all his family had perished, and all their 
possessions l)een destro\-ed, in a frightful eai'tlupiake 
which had devastated Jamaica. 

The young man returned to Philadelphia in I'^j, mar- 
ried iMar_\- Lloyd, daughter of the President of the Pro- 
vincial Council, in I('i94, and quickly ruse to fortune 
and influence in the new settlement. lie became a 
merchant, and a \er\' successful one, ami shdwed great 
shrewdness in the investment of the profits of his busi- 
ness. Convinced that there was a pi'osperous future fur 
the colon)-, and that land would rapidl)- rise in value, he 
b(.)ught real estate largelv. His purchases began in 1 704, 
and increasetl as time went nn. At une time he owned 
about eight thousand acres of land in and aruund the 
present locality of Nurristown, thnugh the wliole tract 
onl)' cost him a sum eipial ti) about twent\-li\e lumtlred 
dollars. He owned much land in the city also. His 
residence was what was long afterwaitis knnwn as the 
Slate-Roof House, on Second Street ])elow Chestnut. 
But the cit\- estate most itlentihed with his name was 
that of " P'air Hill," containing si.\ or se\'en lumdred 
acres, in the old district of Northern Liljerties, 

About 1706 the thriving merchant made a voyage to 
England. Here he visited William Penn, then in prison 



for debt, and aided substantiall}' in releasing him from this 
unpleasant position. His journey was rendered agree- 
able by a hospitable reception from his wife's family, the 
Lloyds of Dolobran. 

Lsaac Norris became early connected with the politics 
of the province. He was frequently elected to the Penn- 
sylvania AssembK', a bod\' noted among the colonial 
legislatures for its freedom of action and fearlessness of 
speech. Moie than once he jM'esided as Speaker of the 
AssemfjK', in 1709 was made a member of the Governor's 
Council, ami held othei' important offices. In the later 
years of his life he resided on his estate of I'air Hill, 
remote hom the hustle of the growing city, in a tpiiet 
countrv home which lav within easy reach of the cit\- 
streets and the haunts of business and politics. He died 
suddenh' in 1735, at the age of about sixt\--si.\ \-ears, 
while attending h'riends' meeting in Germantown. He 
left a large familv. 

The sectmd Isaac Norris, son of the former, was born 
in I 70 1, and became as prominent as his father had been 
in the politics of the province. He entered upon a mer- 
cantile career, and continued in business till 1742, being 
looked upon as an authorit}' in all matters of trade and 
finance. In I 7^59 he became the leader of what was called 
the " Ouaker party," who strongly opposed the proprie- 
taries, and particularh' opposed all warlike proceedings, 
even of a tlefensive character. In 1742 an attempt was 
made to defraud him of his election to the Assembly. 
The effort resulted in so serious a riot on the part of his 
supporters that the at'fair became known as the "blood)' 
election. " 

Li 1745 Mr. Norris was sent as commissioner to an 
Indian conference at Alban)-, a journey which then con- 
sumed six days. It now could be done in as man)- 
hours. In 175 i he became Speaker of the Assembl)-, an 
office w-hich he held for many years thereafter. During 
his first term as Speaker, in 1 75 I, he ordered from Pjig- 
laiid the bell since famous as the Liberty Bell, directing 
that it should bear an inscription relative to its proposed 
use in the .State House of Philadelphia, and under it the 
prophetic inscriptioii, " Proclaim Libert)- throughout the 
land, unto all the inhabitants thereof" 

He remained throughout life a vigorous opponent of 
the Peiins and their polic)- of go\-ernment. He died ii-i 
1766, leaving no sons. 

The famil)-, through his Lirother Charles anti his (.le- 
scendcUits, coutinued prominent in Phihulelphia, the I'air 
Hill estate remaining in their hands and increasing 
steadily in value. The city has long since extended 
over its fair fields and the handsonie lawns and gardens 
which once surrounded the grand old mansion, and the 
once rural estate is now being threaded by more than 
fort\- miles of busy streets. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPI/I.l. 



99 



ELISHA KHNT KANH, M.I). 

\)k. Kaxk, one of tlic most f.uiidus of Arctic cxplnrers, 
was Ijoin in Pliiladclphin, I'\-hrii,iry },, 1820, his father, 
John K. Kane, bciny tiic Unitcii .States JiKlL;e for the 
tlasterii District of PeiiiisyKania. lie was educated at 
the University of Viri^inia, Init t<ii>l^ nn decree, liis studies 
bcini;- interrupted by a se\ ere iUiiess wliich affected liis 
heart, and left him in danL;"er of de.ilh from heart-disease 
at an)- moment. In C(.>nse(_|uence of this weak state of 
IieaUlt, he \^iwc u]5 his intentled profession of civil cntjji- 
necrini,'' and graduated in medicine. Alter some home 
tlut\- as a pliysician, he entered the navy as assistant sur- 
geon, and, wliile waiting for a x'acanc)', sailetl in 1S43, on 
tlie " I?ranii\w"ine," as physician to Mi'. Cushing's embass)' 
to China. 

On his way out, while the vessel Ia_\- at Rio Janeiro, 
Dr. Kane made a geological rcconnoissance of the eastern 
Brazilian mountains, in response to his nati\'e strcmg in- 
clination to scientific jjursuits. He also explored the 
asphaltic lakes and the \-olcano of the island of Luzon, 
going to the bott<im of the ciater, and nearly losing his 
life at the hands of the savages, to wlmm the xolcano 
w'as sacred. By this time the fever nl exploratimi ha(.l 
grown strong in Inm, antl, <ifter his return to the United 
States, he resigned his jdace in the emh.issy antl set out 
on a long journey which included hulia, the Himalayas, 
Persia, Syria, and P'g\'pt, ending in a journe\' up the Nile 
and a wound during a fight with Beilmiins. ( )n his re- 
turn to Alexandria he suffered a nearl)" fatal attack of 
plague. He afterwards tra\elled through I^urope, and 
when the war with Mexico broke out, applied for diit\- on 
his post in the na\'\-. He was sent, however, to Africa 
instead of to Mexico, and there e.xploi'ed the coast settle- ' 
ments, and was prostrated by a severe attack of coast 
fever. 

On his return to the Unitetl States, he was sent by the 
President with an important message ti.i General .Scott, 
then in the city of Mexico. The joiuney pro\e(.l a dan- 
gerous one, both from a storm at sea and an attack by 
guerillas on land. Kane was wounded and had his horse 
killed in the fight, and la)- long sick at Puebla, being at- 
tacked there by t)-phus fever. In the following )-ear, during 
a voyage in the United States ship " Suppl)-," he had 
another dangerous illness, nearl)- hising his life troni lock- 
jaw. His whole life seemed a struggle against disease. 

His ser\ice in the Polar regions began in 1850, when 
he was, on his urgent application, appointed on the Grin- 
nell exploring expedition, p.utl)- intended to search for 
traces of Sir John Franklin. During this v-o)-age he was 
seriousl)- prostrated by sea-sickness, but refused to go 
hduie from Greenlantl as recjuested, and remained with 
the ship during its sixteen months <_if Arctic experience, 




his health improving in the ic\- seas. Dr. Kane Ijecanie 
the histoiian of the expedition, but in 1S53, while his 
book was still in the press, was off to the north again, 
this time in command. The expedition was jiartl)- sup- 
[lorted b)- the gd\-ernment, parti)- by societies and pri\-ate 
ci>ntributoi-s. [ust as he was about to start, Kane had a 
violent attack of inllanmiatoi)- rheumatism; but he per- 
sisted, was cn'rieil on his shi[), the "Ad\-ance," ani.1 sailed 
for the north. 

The expedition spent two winters in the ice, and in 
June, 1S54, the ship l)eing then ice-bound in Rensselaer 
Hailjor and Kane sick with scur\\-, he sent Morton, one 
of his iiett)- officers, noith on a journey of exploration. 
He reached the latitude of Si^, and brought back a re- 
port of h.uing seen an oj)en Polar sea. In 1855, the \-essel, 
which h.id liecome hopelessl)- ice-bound, w-as abandoned, 
and the crew niatle a perilous journe)- soutlnvard o\-er 
the ice of Smith's .Sound and Melville Bay, bringing their 
boats on sledges, their route being thirteen hundred n-iilcs 
in length. They hatl reached Lievely, and were about 
to take passage on a P)anish \-essel for Europe, when the)- 
were f umd b)' a relief expedition which had been sent 
north .uid lirought back to the United States, 

The daring explorer wrote an interesting narrati\e 
of his ad\'entuies, entitled "Arctic Explorations: '1 he 
Second (irinnell l\xi)eilition in Search of Sir John I'rank- 
lin, 1853-54-55." This work was charmingly written 
and adniirabl)- illustrated, and had an inmiense sale, tlie 
author receiving ^65,000 cop)-riglit from the first edition. 
He dill not long survive his success, his health being 
irreparabl)- weakened, and he died at Havana, whither 
he had gone for recujieralion, on the l6th of pY-bruar)-, 
1S57. 



100 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



-^■. 



jnr'l *»»v 



.^1 



\ 




SAMUHL WHTHHRILL. 

Samuel Wethkkii.i, was l)(.)rn in I'liilailclpliia, I'Liin- 
sylvania, May 27, 1S21. He died at ( ).\tnid, Talbot 
County, Man-land, June 24, 1890. 

He was the oldest son of John Price \\'etherill, and 
great-grandson of Samuel Wetherill, both prominent and 
leading citizens of Philadeli)hia, where the colonel was 
born and educated. 

Karl)- in life he enteied the White Lead and Chemical 
Works of his father and uncle, and became familiar with 
both branches of the business, and in 1S50 he engaged 



witli the New Jerse\- Zinc Compan\-, at Newark, New 
Jersey. Following a course of careful experiments to a 
successful issue, he patented, in 1852, the well-known 
Wetherill Furnace, for the manufactm'c of white oxide of 
zinc directly from the ore. In the year follow-ing he built 
the Lehigh Zinc Works, at Bethlehem, Pennsj-lvania. He 
was the first to produce metallic zinc commercially in 
America, and in 1S57 jiroduced the ingot from which 
was rolled the first sheet of metallic zinc in the United 
State. 

Soon after the breaking out of the War of the Re- 
bellion, he volunteered and recruited two companies of 
cavalr}' at Bethlehem, and was assigned to Harlan's 
Light Ca\-alr\-, afterwards the Eleventh Pennsyhania 
Ca\'alr\-, and commissioned captain, August 19, 1S61. 

With his regiment he saw hard and gallant ser\'ice 
with the Armies of the Potomac and the James, some- 
times conmiantling the regiment, often on detached duty 
with his battalion. His last duty w-as as chief of staff to 
General Kautz, comnianding the cavaln- of the Arm\- of 
the James. He was bclox'ed b\- his officers and men, 
antl had not (Mily the respect and confidence of his supe- 
riors as a soldier and an officer, but secured their regard 
antl esteem as a gentleman. 

Captain Wetherill was promoted major, October i, 
1 861 : was bre\'etted lieutenant-colonel. United States 
Volunteers, ]\Lu-ch 13, 1865, " for gallant and meritorious 
conduct throughout the campaign of 1864 against Rich- 
mond, Virginia," and was honorabh- niustercd out of the 
service, September 30, i S64. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



lOI 



FRANCIS WISTHR. 

Francis W'istek was educated at the Uiii\ersit_\- of 
Pennsylvania, ami Ljraduated froni that institiitimi in the 
Class of iS6o. 

August 5, 1S61, in the earl_\- part of the Ci\il War, he 
was appointeil from the State of PennsyKania as c.iptain 
of Twelfth United States Infantr\-. At the time this ap- 
pointment was made Captain W'ister was barel\' of age ; 
as soon as the appointment reached him, Captain Winter 
hastened to join his regiment. He took part in tiie battles 
of Gaines's Mill, Turkey Rend (here sup])orting the 
batteries), MaK-ein Hill, secmul Hull Run, Antietam, 
Fredericksburg, Chancellors\ille, ami Ciettysburg, Cap- 
tain W'ister was brevctted major of United States Arm_\', 
January 3, I1S63, f.>r gallant antl meritorious ser\"ices at 
the battle of CliailcelIors\ille, \'irginia, and bre\etted 
lieutenant-colonel, JliI)' 2, I.S63, for gallant and meritori- 
ous services at the battle of Gettj-sburg, Pemisyl\-ania. 
In this battle he was second in connnand of hi-^ battalion, 
and ga\-e all the orders during the battle. 

In September, 1863, Captain \\"ister was ordered on 
recruiting ser\ice as one of the officers oi his regiment, 
ha\'ing seen the longest ser\ice in the tield. 

After ser\ing on this dut\- for a \-ear, he, in .September, 
1864, again returned to the army antl took command of 
his regiment, which took part in sexeral allairs in the 
vicinity of Hatcher's Run. Soon after this his regiment, 
the Twelfth United States Infmtr}-, was ordered to New 
York, ami Captain W'ister was appointed senior aide-de- 
camp on the staff of Major-( jeneral A. A. Humphi'ies. 
Ser\ing in that capacit\-, he remained in the field until 
after the surrender of General Lee. 

Immcdiateh- after Lee's surrender to General Grant, 
Captain W'ister was, on April 21, 1865, ajipointed colonel 
of the Two Hundred and I-"ifteenth PennsyKania \'oI- 
unteers, and b\- selection of Genei'al I'.u'ke was given 




comm.nul of a prosisional biigade at Washington, this 
brigade consisting of an Ohio regiment, an Indiana regi- 
ment, and the Two Hundred and Fifteenth Penns}-lvania 
X'olunteer Infmtry. 

( )n }ul\- ^i, 1865, he was honorabh^ mustered out of 
\'olunteer sei\ice, and t<:iok command of his company 
ill the Twelfth Infmtr}-. He onl}- scr\-ed with his 
regiment eight months after this, for, on April 17, 
1866, he resigned his commission ami was honorably 
discharged. He, since 1866, has been engaged in com- 
mercial pursuits. 

Colonel W'ister is an active and enthusiastic member of 
the Penns)'hania C'ommandery of the Military Order of 
the I,o\-,d Legion of United States. He was one of the 
first officers to join the Loyal Legion, and has always 
taken a warm and acti\-e interest in the success of the 
order. He is also a memlier of the fhiited Ser\-ice Club 
of Philadelphia. 



I02 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




CHARLHS I'AINE HERRING. 

CiiARLiis Paine IIekkixc was Ijoiii in I'hil.ulclplii.i, 
Pennsylvania, August S, 1827. He was of English and 
French tlesccnt, antl was a nei)hcw of Rembrandt Pcale. 
He was, until the opening of the Rebellion, engaged in 
mercantile jnusuits in l'hila(lel})liia. In June, 1 861, he 
became second lieutenant of Compan\- C of the Gra}- 
Reserves, commanded by Captain Charles M. Pre\-ost. 
In May, 1862, he acted as adjut.uit of the Ijattalioii, 
under Colonel Charles S. Smith, which was emplox'ed 
in quelling the riots in Schuylkill Count}-. In August 
of the same year, upon the forniation of the (Jne Hun- 
dred and Eighteenth Regiment I'ennsyKania Volunteers, 
he was commissioned majnr, and Capt<un Charles M. 
Provost receivctl the commission of colonel. ( )n Sep- 
tember 20, a few weeks onl\' after being nuistered into 
the service, the regiment became in\ol\ed in the memor- 
able disaster at Shepherdstown, Virginia. It had been 
with the reserve in the preceding liatlle of Antietam, 
but with that exception had never been under fire. A 
gallant stand was made, but it was soon forced from the 
field b)' sheer weight of mmibers. The action lasted 
for a few moments onl_\-, but the losses were remarkabh- 
severe. There were one hundred and se\'enty-seven 
killed and woiuideil, besitles ninet\'-tliree taken prisoners, 
of perhaps six hundred taken into action. It was in this 
engagement that General Charles M. Pre\-ost received 
the wound which ultimately terminated his life. General 
Herring rendeied himself consjjicuous b\' his services on 
this occasion, antl displayeil that remarkable coolness 



and braver}- which characterized his conduct in e\-ery 
succeeding engagement. It was tlue in large degree to 
his soldierly conduct, after General Prevost was disabled, 
that the balance of the regiment was able to retire from 
the field. At the battle of P^redericksburg he was 
wounded in both arms, but for some time refused to 
leave his command. At Chancellors\-ille he connnanded 
the rear-gu. ud in the retreat of the ai'm}- across the ri\-er. 
At Gett}-sburg, where the position of his regiment on the 
second da}- was particularl}- hazardous, he was again clis- 
tinguished. He was in command of his regiment during 
the Wilderness campaign, except on the first day. A 
brilli.mt charge led b}- him on the e\ening of Ma\- 8, 
while in command of a brigade of fi\e regiments, received 
the especial commeiulation of his superior officers. He 
continued iminterruptedl}- with his regiment, with great 
self-abnegation refusing j^romotions which would have 
se\-ered his connection with it, imtil he receixed at Dab- 
ne}-'s Mill, P\'bi-uar}- 6, 18^)5, the wound which resulted 
in the loss of his right leg. 

General Hen'ing was pr<.)moted lieutenant-colonel No- 
vember I, 1863, and bre\etted colonel United States \-ol- 
unteers December 2, 1864, "for gallant ser\-ices at the 
battle of the Wilderness and during the present campaign 
before Richmouil, X'irginia ;" brigadier-general March 
13, 1865, "for galkmt and meritorious ser\-ices in the 
battle of Hatcher's Rim, X'irginia." 

General Hening was honorabl}- nursteretl out June I, 
1865. After the close of the war he engaged in busi- 
ness in Philadelphia w-ith General Charles M. Pre\'Ost. 
.\ friemJship aiul ilevotion cementeil in the xarietl scenes 
of the mai'ch and camp and battle was continued for 
man\- }-ears in the close relations of business. General 
Pre\-ost's death preceded the death of General Herring 
b}- little more than one }-ear. 

General Herring was a noble man. There were men 
as bra\-e as he, although his braver}' was remarkable. 
There were men who, like him, showed not onl}- courage, 
but presence of mind and skill in the roar of battle. 
There were men as unselfish and de\-oted in their patriot- 
ism. There were men whose li\es rc\ealed the same 
simple and beautiful faith and eirnest piety. But in him 
were combined an exceptional number of qualities at once 
noble, manly, and admirable. There nuist have been a 
rare charm and woitli in his life to cause bra\-e men, 
soldiers of man}- battle-fields, to look into his coffin with 
tear-dimmed eyes. 

General Herring died lanuar}- 17, 18S9, at Philailelphia, 
Penns\-l\-ani,i. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



103 



LANCHORNH WISTHR. 

Lanciiukm: \\'l>ri:K was Ijmn in September, 1 S ^4, at 
Belficld, the dill hiiniotead (if his niiitlici"s faiiiil)-, near 
Gcrmantiiwn. After conipletinL; his studies he left liis 
hcinie and went to Duncannon, I'eiry Cnunty, where his 
faniih- were lar_L;el\- interested in the manufacture of iron. 
Here he p.itientl)' anil steadfastly appHed liimself to 
le.irnin;,; ,md ma>terinL;' the details of the birsiness, mitil 
finally he assumed its manaLjement in connection with 
his eldei' brother. 

It was while he was engaijed in this business that the 
att.ick w.is made on Fort Sumter in 1 86 1, and almost 
immediateh' theieatter lie pei'sonalK' lecruited a compan\', 
of which he was commissioned captain, and joined the 
Bucktail Regiment, commanded b\- Colonel Charles J. 
Biddle, tlestineil to become one of the most celebrated on 
man\- a hard-fought field. 

The regiment was at once detailetl for acti\e ser\ ice, 
aiul was first under fire at Dranesv ille, w here the coolness 
and bra\-er\' of its officers and men in withstaiuliiig the 
severest attack of the engagement won fir it the well- 
dcser\-ed encomiums it ne\er forfeited. A p.irt of this 
regiment, inchuling Ceneral (then Captain) Wister's com- 
pan\-, was subsec[uentl\- detached for ser\"ice luiLler Gen- 
eral McClellan on the Peninsula, and during the campaign 
participated in the battles of I\Iechanics\ille, ( iaines's 
Mill, Charles Cit\- Cross- Roads, and other sex'ere engage- 
ments and affairs. 

Dining this series of fierce ami terrible battles, in one 
of which he was wountled. Captain Wister's beha\ior 
secured the confidence and admiration of all his com- 
manding ofificers. Shorth' after the close of the Penin- 
.sular campaign he was commissioned colonel of the ( )ne 
Hundred and l-'iftieth Regiment of the liucktail Brigade, 
and with his regiment t(.)ok part in the movements before 
Chancellorsxille. He w<rs also actively engageil in the 
fierce and memorable struggle at Fredericksburg. 

The regiment afterwards formed part of the right wing 
of Meade's arun- at ( jett}-sbin-g. During the first da)-'s 
battle, near Seminar)- Ridge, tlu' brig.ide commander. 
Colonel Stone, was borne from the I'lekl seriously wounded, 
and Colonel W'ister assumed command of the brigade. 
While conductinL; with admir.ible coolness and foresiLjht 




the critical mameuvres rendered necessary to hold his 
position in the lace of superior numbers, he in his turn 
was se\erel_\- wounded, and more than once, in the des- 
perate struggle for supremac)-, fiuntl himself within the 
enem\-'s lines. .Although his wound was serious, he re- 
niainetl on the fieltl until night closetl the contest, and 
what afterwards proxed to be the ke_\- of the position 
was Won. For his gallantry- and ability displa\-ed on the 
field of (iettvsburg. Colonel Wister was brev'ettetl briga- 
dier-general on the personal recommendation of Ceneial 
Doublei-la\', who succeeded General Re_\nolds in the 
command of the First Corps. 

In 1864 General \\'istc-r. who h.ul tleser\edl_\' olitained 
the esteem ,ind regaid of his com[)anions in arms, re- 
signed his commission and retired to private life, where, 
in the (]uiet jnu'suit of his former business, his sterling 
(|Lialities secured him the lo\ e' and respect of all with 
whom he came in contact. 

He died on the 19th of March, 1 Sc; 1 . in the home 
w heie he was born, leaving a record unsullie-d bv a 
single unworthv' act; and his gentle natui'e VMuild 
have asked no fairer tribute to his virtui's than the 
unfeigned sorrow of those who were left l(j mourn 
him. 



I04 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




RICHARD M. jONHS. 

l?i''.iiiNi) c\cr_\- L;ro\\inL; iiistitutimi <ir ninvciixiU there 
will alwiiys be fmiml a man whose charactei' and purpose 
find expression in that institution. Such an institution 
in tlie city of Philadelpliia is the William I'enn Charter 
School, and the man behind this institution is Riciiard 
Mott Jones. He was born in the town of China, Ken- 
nebec Count)', Maine, on the 2yth of June, 1S43. ilis 
father, Eli Jones, was a man of ijreat enerL,fy and \\'^o\ 
of mind, a self-educated man, and a natm'al educator. 
1 lis mother, .Sib\"l b.mes, a direct ilescentlant of Go\'ernor 
Thomas Diidlew like hei' husband, a minister of tiie 
Society of h'rientls, was poetical in tenipei'.unent, deeply 
spiritual, and remarkable fir her power of mo\inL,r all 
classes of people. 

Mr. Jones's earh' etiucation was L^ained in xarious insti- 
tutions of widel\' different t\'pe and (juality, while the 
influences \\hich surrounded him ilurint; his i^rowini^ 
)ears were es])eciall\- faxoi'able to his tle\ elopnient, — 
notabl)- tliat of Mliza P. Ciurney, in whose cultuixd home 
at 15urlin!4ton, New Jerse\', he passed a period ol his 
boyhood. In 1867 he was tjraduated from Haverford 
College, Pennsylvania, in which he ha<l maintained a hiijh 
standing for scliolarsliip anil in the gencial literars' work 
of tiie college. At gnuluatioii, he was chosen \aledicto- 
rian and class-da_\- orator, anti in iSjO aUunni orator, 
( )n account of his distinguished services in the cause of 
education, his college, in 1 879, conferred upon him the 
honorary degree of Master of Arts, and in 1 89 1 that of 
Doctor of Laws. After his graduation, lie spent eighteen 
montlis as tutor in one of the famous Quaker homes of 
P'.nglanil, followed by an equal period of stud\' on the 
continent. Thus fully ecjuipped for a successful career in 
his chosen field, he now needed experience in the practical 
management of a school ; and an excellent opportunity 



was gi\en liim b\- his appointment to the head-mastership 
of Oak Grove Seminary, a boarding-school for both 
sexes, in whicli position he continued for four years. 

The overseers of the Penn Charter School, the oldest 
of the educational institutions of Philadelpliia, were at 
this time reorganizing their educational work, and seeking 
for a man who sliouki be etpial to the task of raising 
their schocil to the first rank. Mr. Jones was chosen for 
the post, and the leorganized schiiol was opened under 
his head-mastership on the jd of P'ebruary, 1875, in a 
dwelling-house on Twelftli Street, with an attendance of 
seventeen bo\'s. Under liis control, the number of pupils 
rapitlly increased, antl the material progress of the school 
lurs been since that date continuous. Handsome build- 
ings ada|)ted in e\'er\' ]iarticulai' to the development and 
training, botli mental and plu'sical, of the four liundred 
pupils now in attendance, methods of education suited 
to the latest and best a])pro\eil ieleas, a staff of teacliers 
composed of men .md w<inien of the higliest training 
and experience, ,nid all working as a unit to realize the 
purposes and hopes of the liead-master, are a mere sug- 
gestion of what the [last nineteen \'ears lia\-e accom- 
plisheil. Affected w ith dulness (.)f hearing from his early 
manhood, for the last few years Mr. Jones has been 
totalh- deaf; but his high amliition has been realized in 
spite of this niisf )rtune. The qualities which especially 
characterize him, and to which his success is in large 
measm'c due, are untiring energ\', infinite .grasp and pa- 
tience of detail, liigh order of executive abilit)-, in con- 
junction witli the rare power of s(^ vividly projecting liis 
ideas as to make them realities in his own and others' 
eyes, great capacity for continuous tliought antl work, 
love of right and justice, and implicit faitli in the readi- 
ness of the [jublic to recognize and appreciate an honest 
eiidea\-or io gi\'e them the best of e\er)'tliing. His aims 
have always been, and still are, far beyond what lie has 
achieved. His special power with his boys is that of in- 
spiiing them to thoroughness ami nianl\- effort, anil he 
ne\ er fails to put new ambition into a student of flagging 
zeal. In speaking of the striking progress of the School, 
it is but just to give full credit to the wise counsels of 
the Board of Overseers and the intelligent and earnest 
efforts of the staff of teachers, who have efificientl)- aided 
Mr. Jones in all his efforts. 

The advance which the Penn Charter has made in the 
methods and results of secondary education has had its 
influence on every educational institution in Philadelphia, 
and Mr. Jones has, directl)- and indirectly, given shape 
and direction to new movements in education to an extent 
which cannot be computed. He has, in a word, displayed 
the qualities and character and management w liich have 
marked the great teachers of England, and is doing for 
this school, founded by the father of Pennsyhania, what 
Thring did for Uppingham and Arnold did for Rugby. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



105 



HKNRY C. CAREY. 

Hexkv Charles Cakey, oldest smi of Matliew Carey, 
tile well-known publisher and economist, was born in 
Philadelphia, December 15, 1793. His father took special 
pains with his earl)' education, and in particular inculcated 
the economic views which he so stront^ly held, pointing- 
out the need of reform to his son as they walked the 
streets together. The boy de\'el<iped business talent 
earl)' in life, and in his twelfth year took- charge of the 
Baltimore branch of his fither's business. In 1S12 he 
ser\'ed in the militia raisetl fir the defence of I'hiladelphia, 
and in 1S14, when twenty-one years of age, entered his 
father's firm as second partner. He continued in the 
bookselling and publishing business till 1836, when he 
w ithdrew to pi'i\ale life. 

In 1833 he removed to Burlington, N. J., where he 
resided till 1855. Here he sti'ongly opposed the exac- 
tions growing out of the Camden antl y\mboy Railroad 
monopoK', and \igorously assailed the methods ot the 
conipau)- in a series of pamphlets, petitions, and new s- 
pa])er articles, which in the end f H'cetl it to reform the 
leading abuses against which the peopk- pi'otestetl. This 
was the fust step in that struggle for gt>\ernmental regu- 
lation of i.iilroad coi'porations which is still in [irogress. 

In 1855 Mr. Carey leturneil to l'liil.i<lelphia, and took 
up his residence at l'",le\enth and W'.dnut Stieits. Here 
the "Carey Collection" of pictures and his library of 
economical literature were arranged, and his house 
became the scene i.if weekly reunions which embraced 
the best society of Phikulelphia and the most notable 
of its \isitors. During the Ceiltemiial \'ear these gathei"- 
ings were thicinged b_\' \isitors of distinction, ami Mr. 
Care\' pla_\'ed the host with a grace and \ i\'.icit_\', and 
an abundance of anecdote, reminiscence, and genial 
humor, which made these occasions delightful to all 
participants. | 

In politics Ml'. Care)- was a member of the RepubliCcUl 
part)', and a strenuous ad\'ocate of the doctrine of pro- 
tection of .'Vmerican industries. He was a trusted ad\-iser 
t)f Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Chase, the latter consulting him 
on his plan fir a national banking s)'stem. In 1S72 he 
became a member of the convention to [irep.ire a new 
constitution fii' Pennsylvania, and m.ui)' of his sugges- 
tions were adopted in the new instrument. His life con- 
tinued until I 871^, although for )'ears he had been \isibl)' 
weakening and felt keenl)' the weight of o\d age. His 
library was becjueathed to the Universit)^ of Pennsyh-ania. 

As a political ec(.)noniist the career of Mr. L'are\' was 
a brilliant one. His works of economical literature 
began in 1S35, with an " l{ssa)' on the Rate of Wages," 
and in 1836 he printed a work called "The Harmony of 
Nature," of which, how-e\-er, onl)' ,-i few copies were 
issued. In 1837 appeared his "Principles of Political 
Econoni)'," in which he elaborated the opinion he tlien 
14 




entert, lined that the laws of politic. d ecououi)- .n"e in- 
herent in the constitution of societ)', and that it is the 
business of the statesman simpl)' to remove all obstacles 
to the free pla)- of those laws. Ciovernnient interference 
in the economic field he believed to be radically niis- 
chie\-ous, and held that unrestricted conmierce jjetween 
the nations must conduce to the benefit of all. Paternal 
government he believed to defeat its own ends. Later 
in life, however, he percei\-e-tl th.it these general princi- 
ples Would neetl to be modified to fit p.u'ticular situ- 
ations, and he letuined to the protectionist views of his 
father. 

His other books wert' munerous. They include "The 
Past, the Present, and the h'uture;" "The H.irnion)- of 
Interests, Agricultui'al, Manuficturing, .md Commer- 
cial;" "The Slave Tratle, Domestic ami l'"oreign;" " Let- 
ters on International Cop)'rig-ht," and \'ai'ious others; the 
principal among them lieing " The Principles of .Social 
.Science," the gi'cat wmk on which his fuiie princip.ill)' 
rests. His \'igorous advocacy of the opinion th.il unie- 
stricted commercial intercourse between nations of dif- 
ferent degrees of industrial develo|)ment is likely to 
prove a serious disadvantage to the least atlvanced, 
brought him forw.ird as one of the le.uling supporters 
of the Protectionist jiolic)-, which he advocated with a 
cle.iriiess of argument anc.l a f.ir-seeing intelligence that 
gax'e him the reput.ition of being the le.iding economist 
of the age I'^ir a number of \'ears he was a constant 
contributor to Tin' Tribune on economical subjects, and 
he had much to do with starting " the wave of Protec- 
tionist sentiment" which followed the depression of in- 
dustry in 1857. Before he died, his le;uling works had 
been translated into eight Eluropean and one Asiatic 
language, and his influence had become very great in 
the economic councils o! the world. 



io6 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




DR. THOMAS CADWALADER. 

There is probably no faniih- in the I'nitctl States more 
piireh- American in their derivation than the Cadwalader 
tamil}', and, Hkc the Adams family of Massachusetts, the 
record of its j)atriotic ser\ices is coextensive with our 
national histor}-, and it is intimatel)- interwoven for eight 
Ljenerations with the entire histor_\- of Pennsylvania from 
the time of its colonial foumlation by Penn in 1682. Its 
inlluence has also been ver\- prominentl}- exerted in public 
affairs in New Jerse\-, Delaware, JMaryland, Virj^inia, and 
New York ; e\'er\- line of descent b\' the marria^jes in the 
several generations having likewise been derived from 
among the earliest settlers of those States. The central 
figure in this faniih' group is that of Dr. Thomas Cad- 
walader, who was boin in Philadelphia in 1707, and died, 
while on a \isit to Trenttm, in November, 1779. His 
public ser\ices co\ er the most im[jortant historical occa- 
sions of the Coloni.d times as well as of the period of 
the Revolution and in the annals of Pennsyh-ania. His 
grandfather, Dr. I^dward Jones, great-uncle John Ap 
Thomas, and great-grandfather Dr. Thomas \V_\-nnc were 
purchasers of extensive tracts of land of Penn in 168 1, 
and with their fomilies were among the latter's principal 
advisers and coadjutors in the foundation of his Prov- 
ince, and most trusted officers in the administration of 
its affairs, in which they were subsequent!)- joined (1697) 
b}- his father, John Cadwalader, who was a member 
of the City Council and of the Assembly, Judge of the 
Courts, etc., and was also one of the leading men of the 
Province. 

Dr. Cadwalader was for twenty-five years a member 
of the City Council (1751-1776), for nineteen years a 
member of the Goxernor's Council ( 175 5- 1774), and was 
the first Mayor of Trenton ( 1 746-1 750), where some land 



speculations caused him chiefl}- to reside for several years. 
He was a Judge of the Courts, and was also a member 
of a large number of the most important public com- 
missions. His services in the Provincial Council included 
the "Se\-en A' ears' War" (175 5-1 763); Pontiac's war and 
the insurrection of the Paxton Po\-s, a period frauglit 
with the most embarrassing and arduous labors in the 
history of that bod}-. His appointment was made on 
the occasion of the "Wild Panic" following Braddock's 



defeat on Suntla\-, No\ember 



j^'-,. upon receipt of the 
news in Philadelphia of the incursions and mas.sacres by 
the P'rench and Intlians into the neighboring counties. 
He joineil in the formation of one of the niilitar}- corps, 
and is said at one time to have held the rank of lieu- 
tenant-colonel. He was also Chairman <>f the Board of 
\\'ar, appointed by the Assembl}- under the title oi " 1 he 
Provincial Commissioners." The fact that Dr. Cadwal- 
ader was summoned to the assistance of the Governor's 
Council at such a crisis, and was appointed one of the 
Provincial Commissioners b\- the Assembl}*. between 
which bodies there subsisted at that time so embittered 
an hostilit}- are \'er}- interesting evidences of the high 
estimation in which his inipartialit}- and force of char- 
acter and public abilities were held. Those responsible 
duties had barely ceased when he became involved ( 1765) 
in the conflicts with Great Britain that introduced the 
Revolution, in which he and his famil\- took the leading 
part in Penns}-lvania. There was no public interest of 
an\' kind that Dr. Cadwalader's active and enterprising 
spirit was not among the foremost in promoting, whether 
in the political, social, professional, or institutional move- 
ments of his time, and in his many-sided career of use- 
fulness he was second onl\- to P'ranklin, with whom 
he was a contemporar}-. But space will not permit a 
narration of his eminent professional and various other 
ser\-ices. It ma}-, however, be stated that he was a 
founder and an original Director of the Philadelphia 
Librar}- (1731); that he founded and endowed a library 
in Trenton, described in Force's " Archives" as " an ele- 
gant public library" at the time of its destruction by the 
British in 1776, and was a founder of the first medical 
librar}- in America. He was also a founder of the Uni- 
versity (1749), and one of its trustees; of the Pennsyl- 
vania Hospital, and one of its original Physicians (175 i ) ; 
of the first medical societ}- as well as the first medical 
.school (1765); and of the American Philosophical So- 
ciety (1769), of which he was elected its first vice-president, 
and virtually its presiding officer, as Franklin, who received 
the compliment of an election as president, was in I-Lurope, 
where he remained for some }-ears. These are to-day 
among the best institutions of their kind in America. 
(For the services of Dr. Cadwalader and family in the 
Revolution, see pages 10 and 107.) 



MAKERS or PHILADELPHIA. 



107 



GENERAL JOHN CADWAI.ADHR. 

John Cadwaladek, born in PhiladL-lphia in 1742, was 
the elder son of Dr. Tiioinas Cadwalacler. The latter 
and his faniil\- were the leaders in Pennsy]\-ania in the 
non-importation a_q;reenients (i7'>5, \J(^n) aiitl the other 
nio\enients introthietor}' to the Revolution. lohn Cad- 
walader and John iJickinson, a ne[)hew of the tioctor, and 
(jeorsjje Cl_\'mer took with hini the principal part. Dickin- 
son, desci-ibed Ijy I'hailes Thoniscin, Secretar)- of the 
Continental Conyi'ess, as the "first champion of Ameri- 
can liberties," drafted the ResoKes of the Stamp Act Con- 
L^ress (l7(')5), and by his celebi-ated "Farmer's Letters" 
(1767-68) united the colonial opposition. In the words 
of Mr. Bancroft, they "carried con\iction throuLjli all the 
thirteen colonies." In 1770 John Catlwalacler \\ as par- 
ticularly distinijjuished by his determined course 1 if oppo- 
sition to the nio\-ement for breakiuLj the Agreement, 
although the dry-goods importers, of which he was one, 
were the chief sufferers fiom it. He urged th.it an_\- 
breach of the terms of the inter-colonial compact woidd 
cast dishonor upon those Pro\inces, anil at the opposi- 
tion meeting at the State House he was appointetl one 
of the Committee to sustain the Agreement. In recog- 
nition of the public appreciation of his conduct, the Cit\' 
Council, at its nieetnig held five days afterwartls, called 
him to a seat in that biul}-. At the original Tea-Meeting 
that ensued ((Jctofter, 1773), antl of such historic note as 
the introduetor\- to the Re\"olution, Dr. Cadwalader was 
the chairman : and George Cl_\'mei', his kinsin.m. was the 
mo\-er of its spirited resolutions ailojited b\' the Boston 
Tea-Meeting (November, 1773). and termed "The Phila- 
dclphiii Resolutions." It was " Phihulelphia" that, in the 
words of Mr. Bancroft, "began the work of pre\ention" 
against the tea-imposition culminating in " The Boston 
Tea Part}-." Upon the consequent [lassage of the Boston 
Port Bill (1774), John Cadwalatler organized and com- 
manded " The Greens," the first military coi'ps formetl in 
Penns\-1\ ania for the contest, and was one of the original 
members of the Connnittee of Safet)', Proxincial Congress, 
and of the other Re\-olutionar)- bodies, and chairman of 
one of the District Committees of Correspontlence. In 
1774 Dr, Cadwalader witlulrew fiom the Proxincial Coun- 
cil, his conspicuous p.irt in the ojiposition having rendered 
him obnoxious to the resentment of the British govern- 
ment. During the Re'-dlution, although ,ui old man of 
threescore and ten, he rendered valuable assistance to 
the Militar)' Hospital department. Dr. John Jones, the 
eminent surgeon in the I'rench W'ai' and Revolution, 
dedicated his work on "Surgery, and Cam]) and Military 
Hospitals" to Dr. Cadwalader. The zeal of the hitter's 
patriotism was extended o\-er a large famih' connection, 
who exerted a powerful infiuence in promoting the cause 
in New Jersey, Delaware, Marj-land, and New York as 
well as Pennsylvania. General Cadwalader was distin- 




guished "for a zealous and inflexible adherence to the 
cause of American indeiieiulence, and for intrepidit\- as 
a soldier in upholding that cause timing the most dis- 
couraging periods of danger ami misfortune." He con- 
tinued throughout the Revolution to ])ossess the fiiend- 
ship of Washington in a |)eculi,ir degree, and was one 
of his most trusted and confidential nn'litar_\- atlvisers. 
In 1778, Washington, in a letter to t'ongress, speaks of 
him as a " nnlit.ny genius." .and in a letter in 1781 ex- 
[iressed ,1 tlesire that he might become his successor 
in the command of the army in the event of his own 
disability. He was the le.ider in breaking up the Con- 
wa\- Cabal. Chief-Jusiice Tilghm.m, bi-other of Colonel 
Tench Tilghman, of Washington's staff, widte of him at 
the close of the Re\-olution. October, 1783 : " I know no 
man who has supportetl a better ch.iracter in trying times. 
His conduct has been firm, though generous. No m.m 
has been moi-e forwai'd to support the principles of the 
Re\'olution with his fortune and his life." h'rom the first 
he had been noted as one of the strong upholdei's of a 
polic}' of united inter-colonial action, a tendency of view 
manifested later in fa\or of an early declaration of inde- 
pendence, and b\- his .ulvocacy for a pi'ompt formation of 
a strong federal government. He and Matlison were the 
ones most proniinentl\- identified with Washington in the 
conduct of the original Annapolis C '( invention ( 1 784-1 785), 
— and was chairman of the Maryland Commissioners, — 
an occasion of so much historical interest as having initi- 
atetl the movements resulting in the call of the Constitu- 
tional Convention (1787) anil the adoption of our federal 
government, in all of which movements Dr. Cadwalader's 
familv took a most conspicuous part (see p. 10). But 
for the previous ileath of General Cadwalader (17S6), he 
would no doubt have received one of the principal ap- 
pointments in Washington's administration. 



io8 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




DAVID JAYNE, M.D. 

David Jayne, so widely kiidwn tlirouy'li the merited 
reputation of liis " Family Medicines," was born at Bush- 
kill, Monroe Count)', renns)'l\-ania, in 1798, the son of 
the Rev. ]{benezer Ja\-ne, a hiLjlily-respectetl Baptist 
clertjyman of that place. The rural districts in that day 
presented very sparse opportunities for education, but the 
boy entered upon a sex'ere course of self-culture, ant! 
fitted himself, with aid from a preceptor, to enter the 
Medical Department of the University of l'enns\'l\-ania. 
In i(Sj5 he entered upon the practice of meilicine in 
Cumberland Count}-, and afterwards in Salem County, 
New Jerse}', fields of work of little \'alue pecuniarily, 
j'et in which he L;ained much valuable experience in the 
treatment of disease. 

In the year 1831 he introduced the first of the pro- 
prietaiy medicines with which his name has so long been 
associated, while the others comprisini; the well-known 
list of the Jayne remedies were produced in the imme- 
diately succeeding years. The sale of these medicines 
pro\-ing successful, Dr. Ja\'nc remo\ed to I'hiladelphia 
in 1836, purchased a drug store at No. 20 .Sduth Third 
Street, and there, while engaged in the sale of drugs and 
in medical practice, laid the foundation of his subsequent 
great business in the sale of proprietary metlicines. This 
quickly grew so important that he was obliged to relin- 
quish all visiting practice, but until the end of his life con- 
tinued to prescribe for such patients as came to his office, 
treating them gratuitously and as a " labor of love." 

By 1845 his business had so expanded that it became 
necessary to seek much larger quarters than those he 
hatl hitherto occupied, and he removed to No. 8, on 
the same street, a few doors above his original place of 
business. In less than two years this localit}- became 
also insufficient in size, and he then iletermincd on the 



erection of a building that would be ample for all prob- 
able growth of his business, and in size, elegance, and 
solidity would fir surpass any business house in Phila- 
delphia, or, f(ir that matter, in the United States at that 
date. The site selected was on the south side of Chest- 
nut Street, cast of Third, the building being commenced 
in 1S4S and completetl in the autumn of 1850, its ex- 
tent and massiveness of character being such that two 
years were needed for its erection. As comjileted, it was 
ten stories in height (two below ground), its elevation 
being one hundred feet, above which rose a tower thirt\'- 
two feet higher. Its front, forty-two feet wide, was of 
Quinc}- granite, and (icithic in architecture, while the depth 
of the building was one hundred and fiu'ty feet. We 
gi\e these dimensions because, though they have been 
since much surpassed, the}' made this the most conspic- 
uous building of that time in Philadelphia. 

In 1850 Dr. jax'ne formed a partnership with his son, 
Daviil W. l.i_\ne, anil his nejihew, Eben. C. Jayne, to con- 
duct the wholesale drug l)usiness. This attained large 
proportions, but was not so remunerative as desired, and 
was discontinued in I S54, a new partnership being formed 
in 1S55, including the thi'ce partners nametl and John K. 
Walker, Dr. JaN'ne's l)rothei--in-law', under the firm name 
of Dr. D. Ja)'ne & Son, its purpose being the hantlling of 
the proprietar\- medicines. After the formation of this 
firm. Dr. Ja\-ne entrusted the management of the business 
mainly to his junior partners, and had the satisfaction, 
before he died, of seeing it nearl}' doubled in volume. He 
continued his real estate investments, successi\-ely erect- 
ing the building on Dock Street long occupied by the 
Post Office, the fine granite building known as " Jayne's 
Hall," the handsome marble buildings on the site of the 
old " Philadelphia Arcade," the " Commonwealth Build- 
ing," and, lastly, the handsome marble dwelling at Nine- 
teenth and Chestnut Streets, in which his family reside, 
but which he tliil not li\e to occu})}', as he died suddenl}' 
from pneumonia on March 5, 1866, while this building- 
was still in process of erection. 

The "family medicines" of Dr. Ja\'ne have been sjiread 
broadcast throughout the world, and still retain, after 
more than sixty years' trial, their reputation as valuable 
remedies. He was very able in the diagnosis of disease, 
and proved his skill in the selection and combination of 
medicines to combat them. In religious belief he was a 
Baptist ; in politics a Whig, and subsequently a Repub- 
lican. In the use of his wealth he was ever liberal, 
particularly in direct contributions to the poor. Of his 
two surviving sons, the elder, Henry Le Barre Jayne, is 
a rising law)-er, ami the younger, Dr. Horace Jayne, is 
Professor of Vertebrate Morphology in the Biological 
Department of the University of Pennsylvania, and was 
late Dean of the Collegiate Department of that institu- 
tion. 



MAKERS OF PlULADRLPHfA. 



109 



SAMUEL D. GROSS, M.D. 

Samtki. D. Gross w, is boiii near luiston, TcnnsyK-aiiia, 
Jul)- 8, 1805. Ilis carl}- cducaliiin was L;aiiictl at schuuls 
in Wilkcsbarrc and La\vrcncc\illf, aftL-i- which lie began 
thf stiul}' (if niL-Llicinc, hrst iiiiilcr Di'. Swill, nf Maston, 
lati-i' under Dr. Gcorgi- AIcGlcllaii, <if I'hiladLJphia. He 
entered the Jelfcrson Medical Cnllege, hum which lie 
graduated in i8j8, and at Ktwcv, began the practice nf liis 
profession in I'hiladel[)hia. Din'ing tliis earl_\- period of 
his career he translatetl sc\eral h'rench and German med- 
ical works, and w rdte an impoitant oi'iginal tre.itise, " Dis- 
eases and Injuries of the Hones and h'hits," which was 
published in 1830. In the few succeeding \eais he was 
busy in e\perinients. inxestigating the temperature and 
the coaguhition of the blond, expeiinieiiting on m.mual 
strangulation, etc. 

In 1833, he became 1 )emc)nsti-ator of Anatonn- in the 
Medical College of Ohio, at Cincinnati. Two )-ears .after- 
wards lie acce|)ted the chair of Pathological Anatomy in 
the Medical Department of the Cincinnati College, where 
he tielivered the t'li'st systematic course of lectures on 
morbid anatoni)' e\'er gi\en in the L'nited States. His 
" I'llemcnts of Pathological Anatonu'," the first ti'catise 
on the suljject in the luiglish language, was published 
in 1839. In I 840, he became Professor of Surger)' in the 
Universit}- of Louis\il!e, Kcntuck)-. He retained this 
position until 1 '^'■y(\ with the exception of a \'ear's service, 
in 1850, in a similar position in the L'iii\ersit)' of Xew 
York. While in Louisville he was one of the founders 
of the Kentucky State Medical Societ)-, and afterwards 
its presitlent. He returnetl t<i Philadelphia in 185(1, and 
became Professor of .Sui'ger_\' in the Jelferson Medical 
College, a chair which he filled till 18S2, when he re- 
signed ami was nia<le Professor Emeritus. 

Duiing these fift}- _\'ears of serx'ice as an instructor in 
medical science. Dr. (iross lectured to a lai"gei' number 
of students than an_\- other surgeon in this country. It 
is said that his name is attachetl to more than ten thou- 
sand diplomas of students from all jiarts of the United 
States and many foreign countries. As a teacher he was 
higlil)- po[)ulai-, and remarkably successful in the art of 
imparting knowledge, ami his retirement from Jelferson 
Medical College was \iewed with uni\-ers,d regret. In 
clinical instruction he was e\en more popular and suc- 
cessful than in his ordinar_\- class duties. As an operator 
he held the foremost rank, being clear in diagnosis, cool 
and self-possessed in action, and C]uick in deciding on the 
proper com'se of treatment. lie ne\er lost a patient on 
the table from shock or loss of blooLJ. His work was 
performeil well, rapidly, and brillianth'. but never with 
careless haste or reckless experiment. His extensixe 
knowledge of disease made him safe and sure in his 




diagnosis, and no students were evei' better t.iuglit than 
those under the h.ipjjy instruction of Di\ (iross. 

During his long career as practitionei' and jirofessor 
he w.is a \(.)luminous writer. In 1859 appeared his most 
imijortant work, the ".System of Surger\-," which has 
since gone through numerous etiitions. It has been 
[ironounced the most el.tboi'ate work on surgery ever 
written b}' one man. < )f his other works ma)- be named 
" Wounds of the Intestines," " Diseases of the L'rinary 
Organs," " Practical Treatise on Foreign Bodies in the 
Air Passages," "Manual of Militar)- Surger)'," "Ameri- 
can Medical Biograph)-," " Histor)- of American Medical 
Literature," and " Histor)- of the Progress of American 
Surgery during the Last Centin')-." In addition to these 
and other works, he contril)utetl abundanti)- to the medical 
])eriodicals of the countr)-. and edited for five years the 
North AiiiLiiiaii Medico- Chinirgical Rcvicn.'. He was a 
member of medical societies in all ]iarts of the world. In 
1857, with Dr. J. M. DaCo,sta, he founded the Philadel- 
phia Pathological Societ)-. In 1867 he was President 
of the American Medical Association, and he was the 
f umder of the Philadel[)hi,i .\cadem)- of Surger)- and of 
the .\merican .Surgical .\ssociation. He was twice a 
delegate to the British Medical Association, and was 
President of the International Medical Congress at Phila- 
delphia in 1876. He received the degree of D.C.L. from 
the Uni\ersit)- of Oxford in 1872, and of LL.I). from 
Jefferson College and the L'niversit)" of Penns)-lvania, 
from the l'ni\ersit\- of Cambridge, England, in 1880, and 
from the University of lidinburgh a few (.lays before his 
tleath, whicli took place Ma)- 6, 1884. No other .\meri- 
c.iii |)li\-sician or surgeon of the centui)- li.rs attained so 
high a repul.itioii at home and aliroad. 



I lO 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JOHN F13GAR THOMSON. 

John EniiAK liioMsux was horn in Delaware Cmmty. 
l'cnns)-lvani<i, I'"cbniar\- lo, iSoS. His fothci', Jnhn 
'riidiiisdn, had been a ci\il engineer (it Iiiyh ie[Hitati(in, 
uIki was especially notable as the buiklei', in 1S09, of 
the first experimental railroad in the L'nited States, — 
that fi"<>ni the Lei|)er stone (piarries, near Chester, Tenn- 
syKania, to the Delaware Ri\er. He was active, also, in 
other impoitant wdrks, amoni;" them the construction of 
the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal. 

The son, aduptinL;" the prcifessinn of his fuller, from 
whom he ol;)tainetI practical instruction, bewail his pro- 
fessional career in 1827 as a member of the enL;incer 
corps which made the ori^jinal sni'xey for the I'hiladel- 
])hia and Columbia Railroad, the first step tow.irdsthe 
Pennsylvania Central. He left this ser\ice in 1S30, the 
.State havinL; fiiletl to make appiopriations for the con- 
tinuance of the roatl, and accepted an api)ointment as 
assistant engineer on the eastern dixision of the Camtlen 
and Ambo)' Raih'oad, a position in which lie did not I'Hig 
continue. On lea\ Iiil;" this ser\ice he maile a jounie)- to 
I'.urope, his purpose being to examine the public works 
of that continent, and in this way improve himself in his 
profession. He retuiiied in 18 jJ, and shortly after re- 
ceived the ap|)oiiitnient of chief-engineer of the Georgia 
Railroad. This roatl was two huiulred ami thirteen miles 
long, at that time the largest line under control of one 
company in the United States. In this position, as chief- 
engineer and general manager, Mr. Thomson continued 
for years, lo the full satisfictioii of the conipaii)' officials. 



In 1S47 he was called to a new and important post of 
duty, that of chief-engineer of the Pennsylvania Railroad, 
with which he was afterwards to be so long connected. 
Ill tlieii' first annual report, the directors say of him, that, 
"in the selection of a chief-engineer, the Board was for- 
tunate in obtaining the services of Mr. John Edgar Tliom- 
son, a gentleman of enlarged professional experience and 
sound judgment, who had obtainetl a well-earned repu- 
tation upon the Georgia road, and in whom the Board 
place great confidence." 

( )n P'ebruar)- 2, 1S5J, Mr. Thomson attained one of 
the highest positions in the American railroad service of 
that period, being elected Piesident of the Penns\-lvania 
Railroad Company, a responsible dut\' in which he was 
able to o\'ersee the completion of many imjiortant im- 
provements which he had set in train as chief-engineer. 
He remained president of the road for twenty-two \x-ars, 
dx'ing in this post of duty, after liaxing seen the road 
remarkably extended in innuence and importance, largely 
through his intelligent care and supeiA isioii. During 
most of that period he stood at the head of his profes- 
sion as the ablest raiho.id manager in the United .States, 
and the one who li.id done most towards the establish- 
ment .nid dc\"elopnieilt of the system of American rail- 
roads. 

Mr. Thomson's attention w.is not confined to the 
details of railroad service. He was interested in \arious 
I other matters, and strongly so in the development of the 
! mineral lesources of Penn.s)'l\ania, in whose future im- 
portance he had the greatest confidence. He was fully 
acquainted with the coal aiul iron fields, and aided their 
j develoiMiieiit, so far as he could do so, b}- the e.xtension 
1 of railroad facilities in their interest. In addition to this 
he had much to do with the establishment and progress 
of the American .Steamship Company. He w;is a mem- 
ber of the Park Commission, and in this position won 
' the highest esteem of his associates. Mr. Thomson died 
on the 27th of Ma\', 1S74, after a life spent in arduous 
labors, which had continuetl unremittingly for nearh- fifty 
', years. 

( )f the f irtune which he had amassed, the greater por- 
tion was de\'ised kn the founding of what is known as 
St. John's Orphanage, an institution designed to recei\'e 
the daughters of employees who li.ue ilied in railroad 
service, those of the Pennsylvania Railroad having the 
l)reference. His best monument is the great railroad 
system which h.ul Ijeeii laitl oui aiul constructed under 
his intelligent direction in such a caiefiil manner as to 
make it in se\'eral respects the most peiiect road in the 
United States. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



Ill 



RHV. THOMAS C. YAKNAl.L, 0.1). 

1)k. Tiidmas C. \'akn.\ij , icctni- K^{ St. Maiy's I'lo- 
tcstaiit I'^piscopal Cliiirch, was hoi'ii in I'liiladclphia, 
December lO, 1815. lie was educated at N'ale CollcLje, 
fnini wliicli lie L;ra(Uiatid in 1S41. Anicin;^ his cl.issniates 
\\eie Indite W. L. Le.nned, nl'tlic Snpii.rne C'tniit nf New 
York, Jnd-e J. !■". ISaniartl, llonald ( i. .Mitchell (Ik .M.ir- 
\'el), the Rev. Dr. Peters, \w\\ knuwii for his work in the 
charities of New \'ork, and ntlur-^ of note. Di. \'arnall, 
b}' his lather's side, came iiom (Jiiaker stock, beinL; de- 
scended from one of tlK' e.irly iinmiL;iants under I'enn. 
( )n his mother's side he is ot New ]',ni;l,uul descent, com- 
ing; from the Coffins ,uid I''oIl;ci's, from whom descended 
IV-njamin Franklin ,ind .Vdniii'.d .Sir Is.iac Coirm. 

Dr. Yarn. ill, li.ixinL;" studied tor the chinch, leceixed 
deacon's and priest's orders at the h.nuls of I'lishop I I. L'. 
Onderdoiik. ( )ne of his c.xaminei's ami piesenters w.is 
Rew Di'. Charles .S. Williams, loni;" President r)f li.iltinioic 
Collet^'e, and for man_\- _\-ears chaplain of .St. ( ieoi't^f's 
Societ}'. The Rev. tieo]"L;c' W . Knapp <dso took part in 
the .ser\ ices. ( )n A[iiil 1 i, 1S44, I )|-. \',irn,ill was elected 
rector of .St. MaiA's Lluiich, a position which he has 
iniinterrnpteiU)' held hem that d.ite to the pi'esent. His 
histo|-y tlurinL;" this half century of service has been that 
of the church itself of which soniethinL;' neetls to be said. 

This church, situated on Locust Street, e.ist of p'ortieth, 
West Phikulelphia, was oriL;inally erecteil when that now 
cIosel_\'-built section of the cit_\' w,is open coimtr_\-, the 
locality beint;' then known as Hamilton \'illaL;e. File 
earliest Protestant Ej)iscopal ser\ ices in that qn.utei' w ere 
held in the \iIIaL;e scho<.il-honse, which w,is used for 
reliL;ious ser\ ices b\- sexeral deuomin.itioiis. 'I'lie first 
.step towards building a church w.is t.iken in 1S20, in ,in 
appropriation for a domestic mission. ()n July 12, 18^4, 
the late Bishop White kiicl the cornei-stoiie of the ori- 
ginal building of .St. .Maiy's Church, which stood on the 
site of the present one. The clnirch w ,is elected and 
was consecratetl l)_\' Hishop White, then in his eighty-hrst 
year, on luiie if), 1827. It w.is ,1 mission, ire church, its 
pastors only giving it a divided (.hit)'. i\s kite as 1843 
it was literally in the country, open fields surrounding it 
on every side, while the highest number of connnuni- 
cants reported b\- Re\-. R. D. Hall, rector at that time, 
was forty. Tlie cpiaint Cuithic frame-work which adorned 
the chancel of the old church, with the original frame- 
work of the i)ews, came iVom the furniture of the Swe- 
denborgian I'hurch ,it Twelfth and (ic'orge .Streets. 

Under Dr. \'arnairs rectorshi]) a dexelopnieiit ol the 
church quickly began. Thi' first enlargement took [ilace 
in the summer of 1846. In 1850 the present rector\- 
was built, and in 1855 se\eral families witlulrew from 
St. Mar\-'s aiul, with others, formed the Church of the 
Saviour. The old church continued to do dut\' for the 




grow iiu 



congregation until iSjljWhen the necessity of 



a new and eiil.irged church building became so urgent 
th.it Dr. N'.irn.ill propost.'d to his congregation to collect 
j;40,000 tor the jnirpose. The)" were taken b\" suiprise, 
and many of them looked on the project as hopeless, but 
the energetic ])astor went earnesth' to w(n-k, and in a 
short time was in a [)osition to warrant the lieginning ol 
the new edifice. The corner-stone w.is laid b)- Hishop 
Stevens, Jul)' 1, 1872, and in 1873 the church was re.id)' 
for dedication, the first service being held in it on Christ- 
mas da\' of that )'e,ir. 

The present SinuIa)'-schoi >1 liuilding w,is erected in 
1874 and enlarged b)' an addition, il stor\' in 1883. Atl- 
\ent .^und.i)', 1884, was marked b)' the introduction of 
a vestetl choir of men and I)o\'s. The present church 
building, which is ;i suljstantial stone structure, was cc)n- 
secr.ited be liishop Whitaker, Ma\' 31, 189O A short 
time liefne the consecration there was erected in the 
church the magnificent Wetherall marble memorial altar, 
;uul since then there ha\e been pjlaced the four memorial 
chancel windows to Pishop Potter, and the lectnrn, a 
meiiiori.il to Mrs. W. W. PaN'Kjr, a daughter of the Re\-. 

(7. |. lUlltoll. 

( )ii April 15, i8ij4, a liiglil)- interesting ceremoii)' was 
belli in the church, being the goklen jubilee, or fiftieth 
aniii\eis,u)' of the rectorship of its \enerable pastor, 
which was celelinited in the presence of a cr<iw(led con- 
gregation, Bishoi) Whitaker conducting the ser\ices. At. 
this service was used for the first time an elaborate puljjit 
of stone and polishetl Ijrass, erected b\' a member of the 
parish, and iKMiing the fillowing inscription: "In com- 
memoration of the golden jubilee of the Re\'. Thomas 
C. Yarn, ill, D.D., Rector of St. Mary's Church, .Xjiril 1 i, 
1 844, to Aiiril 15, 1894." Dr. Yarnall retains much of 
his old energ)', and may add man)' more \'ears to his 
ioiiL!' service. 



113 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




WILLIAM HENRY RAWLH. 

'rniCKK arc ;j;i\cn cL-^cw here in this \\orl< skctclies of 
the h\es iif W'ilhani Rawle, "the elder," and W'ilhani 
R.iw le, Juninr. William Henry Rawle, the s<in cif the 
Litter, and, like his latlier and i;randfather, one of tlie 
most eminent members of the Philadelphia bar, was born 



in tills city, Autjust 31, iS: 



His maternal sjrandfather 



was lulward TilL;hman, ami his L;reat-L;randlather Chief- 
Justice lienjamin Chew. Edward Tilt^hman was one 
of the " Leaders of the Old Bar of Philadelphia," and 
especially noted for his kiinwletlge of the law tif real 
estate. He was a cousin of William Tilyhman, of whom 
a sketch is L;i\en elsewhere in this work. The chief- 
justiceship cif the Supreme Couil of Penns_\-lvania, held 
by the latter, was offeretl to I'Alward 'I'ilyhman, but tle- 
clined. 

Mr. Rawle gi'aduatetl in 1841 fiom iIk- l'ni\ ersit\- of 
Pennsyhani.i, which institution honored him, in 1 882, 
with the de,L,rree of LL.D. He stutlied law with his 
father, was admitted to the bar (jf Philadelphia, October 
12, 1844, and, as in the cise of his father and strand- 
father, in due time became one of its leaders. He rose 
to eminence almost immediately after beL;inninij prac- 
tice, and jnusued a singularly successful career, beinLj 
retained as counsel in nian\- of the most important cases 
in the courts of his nati\-e city and elsewhere. Apart 
from litiLjated cases, of which many of leatlini;" impor- 
tance might be nametl, Mr. Raw le had an e.\tensi\c office 
practice, was the pri\-ate counsel of some of the most 
eminent lawyers and judges in PennsyKania, and had 
the care of important trusts. ' 

Mr. Rawle was not onl\' a lawyer of marked abilit)', | 



but was also a tlistingiu'shetl writer on xaried topics in 
the line of his profession. In 1852 was published his 
" Practical Treatise on the Law of Covenants for Title," 
of which fi)ur other editions ha\e since been published. 
The leading legal authorities of America consider this 
one of the best te.xt-books e\'er written, and it is cited 
as authorit)- not only in e\er\- State of the Lnicjn, but 
also in Lngland aiul the Hiitish colonies. In 1853 he pub- 
lished the third /Vmerican edition of Smith's " Law of 
Contracts," adding to it copious original notes. This has 
also gone through se\eral editions, one of them edited b\' 
Chief-Justice Sharswood, of the Supreme Court of Penn- 
sylvania. j\nother iMigiish work of high authorit}*, "The 
Law of Real Property," b_\- Joshua Williams, was edited 
by Mr. Rawle with elaborate notes. This b(.>ok, with his 
notes, has gone through man}' subsequent editions, edited 
by distinguished authors, and is to-da}' the te.xt-book on 
this subject in ne.irl}' e\'er}- law school ami [irixate office 
throughout the L'nited States. A lecture delivered by 
him before the Law Acadeni}- of Philadelphia in 1868, 
upon " l'",quit}- in Penns}-l\ania," was |)ul.)lisheil subse- 
ipientl}-, and is largel}- used as a text-book. Another 
lecture, deli\ered in iSSi before the Law LX'partment 
of the LTni\ersit}' of l'enns}-l\-aiu'a, on " Some Contrasts 
in the Cirowth of Penns}-l\ania ami luiglish Law," was 
published, and attracted much attention both here and 
in I'jiglantl. In Ma}-, 1S84. he deli\xreil the oration 
befire Ijoth Houses of Congress upon the occasion of 
the un\-eiling of the statue of Chief-Justice Marshall in 
W'ashington, and in June, 1SS5, an address before the 
Harvard Chapter of the Phi Pet.i Ka[)[)a Societ}- on " The 
Case of the Itducated Lhiemploycd." 

In 1862, upon the " P~mergenc\-" call duiing the Ci\il 
War, Mr. Rawle promptl}- enlisted as a prixate in the 
artiller}- ccjmpau}' commandetl b}- Captain Chapman 
Piddle, which was ordereil to Harrisburg. A more 
serious emergenc}' occurreil in 1863, and he again went 
out, this time as Ouartermaster of Landis's Batter}', 
which formed part of the command of General Couch, 
and was engaged in the battle of Carlisle with the Con- 
federate cavalr}-. P^i'om 1S65 to 1873 he was a Vice- 
Pro\ost of the Law Acadeni}- of Philadelphia, and in 
1880 became Vice-Chancellor of the Law- Association of 
Philadelphia, which office he held until his death. He 
was als(-) a tlirectoi- of the Librar}- C<.>nipany tif I'liila- 
delphia, antl <i memljer of the American Philosophical 
Societ}- and of the Poartl of Directors of City Trusts. 
He was twice married, his first wife being a granddaughter 
of the late Horace Binne}- and a daughter of the late 
Judge John Cadwalader. His second wife was a daugliter 
of General Thomas Cadwalader, of Trenton, New- Jersey. 
He died in Philadelphia, April ly, 1S89. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



"3 



JOHN C. BULLITT. 

Joiix CiiKi^riAX Bui.ijTT, an eminent member of tlie 
Philadelphia bar, was boin in JelTerson County, Ken- 
tuck}-, P'ebruaiy lo, 1824. He tlescended from an old 
and prominent American f.imil}-, the first of whom was 
Benjamin l^ullitt, a French Huguenot, who left the prov- 
ince of Lant^niedoc, France, to escape tlie persecution 
that followed the revocation of the I'Ldict of Xantes, and 
settled in this countr\' near Port Tobacco, Maiyland. 
His i^rantlson, Capt.iin Thomas liullitt. \isited the Falls 
of Ohio in 1773, and there laid out the cit\' of Louisville, 
while another s^randson, Cuthbert ]5ullitt, became a Jutl<^e 
of the Supreme Court of Virginia. The son of the 
latter, Alexander S. Bullitt, married a niece of Patrick 
Henry, and piu'chased a tract of one thousand acres near 
I,ouis\-ilIe. His estate, named Oxmoor, is at present 
owned b)- John C. Bidlitt, his ;,;randson. ( )thers of the 
family held piuminent positions, jioliticd and judicial, 
while on his mother's side Air. Bullitt is tlescended from 
Colonel Josiah Fry, who commanded a rcLjiment of troops 
in Braddock's campaign, and on his tleath was succeeded 
in command !)}• George Washington. 1 le played a 
prominent part in the histor\' of the colony of Virginia. 

Mr. Ikillitt was educated at Centre College, Danville, 
Kentuck)-, from which he graduated with honor at 
eighteen. He subsecpientl}- studied law at the L'nivei'- 
sity of Lexington, and was admitted to the Louisxille bar 
in 1845. After se\-eral \-ears of practice in the West, he 
came to Philadelphia in 1S49, and has since resided in 
that cit\-. Here he soon made himself felt in political 
affairs. He had been etlucated as a Whig, ami his po- 
litical ad\ent in Phila<Ielphia was made at ,1 meeting held 
Jul)' 8, 1850, in the Chinese Museum building at Ninth 
and Sanson! Streets, where he delix'cred an able and for- 
cible address. On the tlissolution of the Whig party, 
he adopted Democratic \iews. Politicall)-, howe\-er, he 
entertained conser\ati\'e ojMnions, neither approving of 
secession nor <.>f the extreme \iews held by man\' Repub- 
licans, and became one of the leading s]iirits of his j)arty 
in the State. When war proved inevitable, he considered 
that his first obligation was to Penn.sylvania, and did his 
whole dut\' as a citizen of his adopted State. 

As a law\-er, Mr. Bullitt stands to-(la\- in the foremost 
rank of the Philadeli)hia Ijar, antl is a leading authorit)- 
on conmiercial law. His distinctive characteristics are a 
sound judgment, a thorough knowdcdge of the law, in- 
(hinu'tablc energ)-,and a spotless integrity, qualities which 
have jilaced him high in the confidence and respect of the 
communit)-. L'or many years he was the principal in tlie 
firm of Bullitt & P^iirhouse, a legal house favorabK- 




known throughout the United States and in Furope. In 
his legal practice he has been most conspicuous in the 
settlement of the complicated affairs of railroad and 
banking companies, and was the leading counsel for the 
s\'ndicate of capitalists who sought to rescue the Phila- 
delphia anil Reading Railroad Compan_\- from the abyss 
of debt into which it had fallen, and restore it to its 
securit_\--hoklers. in his effort he had eminent success. 

When the banking house of Ja\- Cooke & Company 
failed in 1873, Mr. lUillitt became the directing mind in 
the settlement of that great estate, antl deser\-es liigh 
credit for the excellent manner in which his work was 
performed. 1 le was counsel for the bankers, antl through 
his unceasing efforts those creditors who were patient 
finalh' realized their claims in full. Mr. Bullitt ser\'ed as 



lember of the Constitutional Convention of 18 



/J. 



and 

during his brief membership succeeiled in havmg adopted 
the amendment which provides that the owner of real 
estate shall be com[)ens.ited for proj)ert\' injured or taken 
in the construction of public works. The most valuable 
service, however, that he has rendered to his fellow-citi- 
zens is undoubtedlv the formulation and securing the 
adoption of the new charter of the cit\- of Philadelphia, 
which in his honor is known b\- the name of the '" Bullitt 
Bill," and which has given to the city one of the most 
compact and serviceable ntum'cipal governments in this 
countrv'. 

Mr. Bullitt's silccess at the bar has been ver\- great, 
his practice being uneipialled in importance and extent 
by that of any other law\-er in Pennsvdvania, while it is 
probabh- the largest at the Philadelphia bar. 



15 



114 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




leroy bliss PECKHAM. 

I.eRov V>\.v-r, PfXKUAM was born in Windham, Wind- 
ham County, Connecticut, May 28, 1853. His progeni- 
tors were of English stock, the l^eckham family settling 
at Newport, R. I., in 1639. Before he was two years of 
age, his parents moved to I-ebanon, New I^^ndon County, 
Connecticut, where he passed his boyhood, and gained his 
preliminary education in the public school and the local 
academy. In 1 872 he entered the public service of his 
native State as a teacher, and in the following year 
removed to Saginaw City, Michigan, where he became . 
principal of one of the city schools, with more than 
three hundred jjupils under his care. In .Seirtember, 
1874, he accepted a position as teacher of hi.story in 
the High .School of Saginaw, The .Superintendent of 
Schools, .speaking of his work there, .said : "In a diffi- 
cult place he was most successful, and was promoted i 
to the High School, where he was equally successful. 
He works with energy and tact. He always has the 
confidence and regard of his pupils, and deserves it. 
He has genuine ability as a teacher. His pupils are 
interested and guided, and work with enthusiasm." 

After the period thus given to tc-aching, Mr. Peckham, 
desirous of obtaining a more liberal education, .spent a 
year at Olivet College, Michigan, and the four succeeding ! 
years at \'ale, where he graduated in the class of 1880. 
It had been his intention to .study law, and with this 
purpose he came to Philadelphia, where he matriculated 
in the Law Department of the University of Pennsyl- 
vania, and registered as a student-at-law under Judge 
Willson as preceptor. In 1884 he graduated, and was 
admitted to practice at the Philadelphia Bar. 

While pursuing his .studies, Mr. Peckham had never 
wholly abandoned the work of teaching. I'or several 
years he held the po.sition of Classical Master in a school 



in West Philadelphia ; while many pupils and students 
came to him for private instruction. Having thus become 
known as a teacher, he was encouraged by tho.se inter- 
ested in education t' 're the estab" • of a 

school for boys. A ,,. ;...^, school whi - ueen 

opened in i88o by Edward Clarence Smith, of Rugby 
Academy, became available as a foundation. In 1886 
Mr. .Smith transferred his interest in this .school, which 
then numbered but si.x pupils, to Mr. Peckham, who re- 
organized it as The Hamilton School. After four years 
of successful labor in this institution, which had grown 
prosperous under Mr. Peckham's control, more than 
one hundred citizens united in giving financial support 
to a plan formulated by him, which .secured to The 
Hamilton School {-jX I-'ortj-first and Chestnut Streetsj 
a nevv .school building, with such appointments as render 
possible the highest grade of primary' and secondary' 
school work. 

By the terms of incorporation as expressed in the 
Charter, full control of all the affairs of the School is 
lodged in a Board of Trustees, the members of which 
are citizens of Philadelphia. The School is thus made to 
.serve the broad educational interests of the community 
and becomes invested with the character of a public 
institution. 

Besides the equipment of a teacher practically experi- 
enced in work with pupils of every age. from the kinder- 
garten to college and beyond, Mr. Peckham brought to 
this undertaking thorough training, .sound scholarship, 
careful study of educational systems, and rare power of 
organization. To found a school that should be known 
by the character of its work, and this, too, unaided by 
endowment, sect, or class, has been his ambition and his 
accomplishment. Untrammelled by traditions of pre- 
vious foundations or prejudices of sectarian control, and 
rejoicing in the confidence of an increasing patronage, 
he has been enabled to embody in a practical .sy.stem his 
own ideas of what the beginnings of an education should 
be. His " Course of Study" has the endorsement of 
prominent educators. The .School is represented in the 
leading colleges and universities, and three times in the 
last four years 0889-i8(>3j the George W. Childs Prize 
for excellence in preparation for entrance to Princeton 
has been awarded to a pupil prepared at The Hamil- 
ton School. The continued influence of the School's 
methods of training and mental discipline is attested by 
the recent statement of a college professor who is also 
a recognized pedagogical authority : " The work of 
students who ha\c been jjre[>ared at this School has a 
distinctive quality which is as unmistakable as it is 
e.xcellent." The Hamilton School, under its able and 
efficient head-master, is still pursuing a u.seful and pros- 
perous career, and promises long to remain one of the 
leading academical institutions of Philadelphia. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



11^ 



ANDKHW C. SINN. 

AnhkI'.w C. Sinn, well kmuMi in this cil)- fur twcnty- 
fi\'c \'i-ars as a ])ai'tncr in the li-adiiiL; w hnk'salt; (Irs'-j^notls 
house of I'liiladclpliia, and nioi'c rccentl)' as president 
of one of our most prominent bankiuLj institutions, 
was l)orn in ("liestei' Couiit)', Pennsylvania, February 
3, 1826. I lis cari\- Hfe was sjjeiit on a farm, and lu's 
education such as was to l)e liad in tin- rur.d districts 
of tile State at that early d.ite in the leiitur)-. llis 
first school N'cars were spent in the I'resbyterian school 
at ]5rand_\-wine Manor and in a ]iri\'ate school kept 
b}' his father. Dui'iii;.^^ this |)ei'iod a new school law 
was passed b}' the I'ennsyKania I.ei^isl.ilure, and public 
schools o[)cned, in which liis (■(juration was completed 
in the meaLjrc fashion jxissibk- ni the common schools 
of that date. 

Mr. .Sinn's record as a Philadelphian lie^an in 1S40, in 
which year he cime to this city to be^in his business 
trainintj as ,1 boy in tin; wholesale dry-^'oods house of 
Samuel lIo<id iH; C 'ompany. In this establishment nearl)' 
the whole of his later life was passed, he i;i'owinLj up in 
it from boyhooil to mature life, and continuini; in it 
tlirou_L;h all its chanL;es f >r ,1 ])eiiod of half a ceiitur)-. 
In his yoLuii^er da\'s, indeed, with the \'ersatile fancy of 
youni^ manhood, he tried iiis fortune at sc\cral other occu- 
pations, such as country storekeepiny, school-tcachint^, 
and farmiuL;. But none of these lines of business proved 
permanentl}' to his taste, and he retLU'ne(-l to the store, in 
which the most of his remainiuL,' life was to be passed. 
I lis business cajiacit)' and acti\it_\' were earlv ])erceived 
by the firm, and he was advanceil step by step until he 
became a [jartner in the business, remaining such for 
twenty-five years. 

DuriuLj the fifty years of his connection witii tlie 
house, its business enormously increased, e.Npandini; 
from $100,000 to $10,000,000 per annum, and thus 
doinj.j one hundred times more birsiness at the end than 
at tlie beginninL,^ of this period. In liS40, when he en- 
tered the establishment, the dr\- Ljoods jobbiuLj business 
in I'hiladc'lidiia was in a very piimiti\'e state as com|)ared 
with its condition to-da)-. At that time the j^oocls sold 
during tile tia\- were invoiced at nii^ht by aitl of the illu- 
mination given by an oil lamp in the middle of the store, 
reinforced b)- the light of a tallow candle held b\' a boy. 
In I1S41 the firm crossed the street to a store on the 
opposite side, in which gas, then a somewhat new agent 




of illuinin.itioii in this cit_\', had been introduced, the 
change being \dted a great impro\enKnt b\- all con- 
cerned. To one who looks u[)on the establishment of 
the firm to-da\', with its great globes of electric lights, 
the progress in the art of store illuminatii m in half a 
centur)- of time must ap])ear almost magical. 

I'"rom this date the business of the firm stea(.lil\- in- 
creased until the commercial rt'Nulsion of 1X57. It con- 
tinued to struggle through the dee[) waters of financial 
panic till i860, when it was obliged to compromise with 
its creditors. It is j)leasant to be able to say that in 
1880, twent\- \-ears later, the last of the old indebtedness 
(over SlOO,OOo) was paid, ami the house cleared of the 
final relic of its debt. In 1888, the firm, then trading 
under the name of llood, lioiibright iv Comi)an\-, sold 
its entire business to John W'anamaker. 

Mr. Sinn remained with the eslalilishment (ku-ing two 
of the wars in which it lemained under Ml'. Wananiakcr's 
control, and tlu 11 was offered, and accejjted, the ])osition 
of President of the Merchants' National Hank, of which 
he iiad been a director dining the si.v preceding years. 
This |)osition he still retains. < )f this bank it will suffice 
to sa)' that it has ])assed through two periods (jf severe 
financial re\-ulsion during the teini of his pi-esidenc\', \-et 
williin this period has doubk-d its de])osits, and has now 
three times the surplus it had four j'cars ago. Mr. Sinn 
deserves much of the credit for this marked progress of 
the bank under his control. 



ii6 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




COI,HMAN SHLLHRS. 

Coleman Sellers, one of the best knmvn of tlie en- 
tjineers and in\entors of Pliilatlelpliia, is a nati\'e nf this 
cit}% in wliich lie was born cm J.nuiary 2S, 1827. Ilis 
preh'minaiy educatinn was reeeived in the rhikulelphia 
common schools, after which he studietl for five years 
under Anthony Bolmar, of West Chester, Pcnnsjdvania. 
His practical experience in Ins futiu'e profession beLjan in 
1S46, in which }-ear he obtained a position as draughts- 
man in the Globe Rolling Mills, of Cincinnati, Ohio. 
Here he remained thi'ce years, part of the time as super- 
intendent of the works. He next engaged in the loco- 
moti\e manufacturing industry, entering the service of 
Niles & Company, locomotive builders, of Cincinnati, as 
foreman. He remained with them fis'c years, rapidly 
advancing in his knowlctlge of mechanical engineering. 
At the end of this time he returned to Philadelphia, in 
which cit_\' he has since resided. 

In 1856 he entered the establishment of William Sel- 
lers & Company, makers of machinery tools and general 
millwrights, as chief-engineer. The senior member of 
this firm is his second cousin, and he remained connected 
with the business for many years afterwards. Since 1888 
he has witlulraun fiom acti\e engineering lab<ir, and 
confined himself to consulting practice, to which his long 
experience admirabi)- adapts him. 

Mr. Sellers has been an inventor (if unusual acti\it\' 
and success. More than thirty patents bear his name as 
inventor, some of them of great utilit\- in the mechanical 
industries. Of these one of tlie first and most notable 
is his coupling de\ ice for connecting shafting, in\cnted 
in 1857, shortly after entering the service of William 
Sellers & Co. This has come into wide use, and is im- 
portant as the essential factor in the modern s\-stem of 



interchangeable parts in shafting. It may be said here 
that the American system of interchangeable parts in 
machinery is one of the leading antl most useful devel- 
opments in niddern mechanical industry, and has remark- 
ably simplified the [jroblem iif the repair of machiner)-, 
by rendering it possible to replace any broken part b\- 
simple order, with the assurance that the new part will 
exactly fit. 

Of his remaining inxentions, the nmst impoitant is that 
of feed-discs fur lathes ;md other machine tools, patented 
in 1866. This was the first practical solution of the 
problem of the infinite gradation of feeds, and is a de\-ice 
of great utilit}-. His other in\entii>ns are principall}' con- 
fined to impro\ed forms of tools and modifications of 
existing machines. While none (if them stand out as 
separate devices of notable impdrtance, the}' ha\'e done 
much towartls the im[)ro\ement of the efficienc}- of 
machinery anil working tools. 

Mr. Sellers also deserves cre(.lit for certain useful ap- 
plications outsitle his immediate field of labor. The use 
of absiirbent cotton f(.)r sm'gical operations was recom- 
mended b\- him as earl\- as 186 1. It has now become 
indispensatile to surgeons. He also proposed the cm- 
plo\-ment (if glvceriii to keep photographic plates wet. 
He has, in shoi't, alwa}'s shown himself [Possessed of 
great originality in practical thought. an(.l has done his 
full share towards the mechanical advancement of the 
world. 

He has hing been an acti\e member of the h'ranklin In- 
stitute, and in I 88 1 was ajipointed [irofessor of mechanics 
in that institution. In 1888 he received the appointment 
of Non-resident Professor of Engineering Practice in the 
Stevens Institute of Technolog)-, and in the same )-ear 
had conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Engi- 
neering by that institute. In 1877 the order of Stolaf was 
conferred upon him b\- the King of Sweden, in honorary 
recognitidU of his value(.l services in liis important prdfes- 
sion. In 1870 he was elected President of the Franklin 
Institute, and held the presidency till 1875. In 1S84 he 
was made President of the .American Societ}- of Mechan- 
ical Engineers. He has also held the presidency of the 
Photographic Society of Philadelijhia, and of the Penn- 
s}-lvania .Societ}' for the Prevention of Cruelt}' to Animals. 
He is a member of other learned societies at home and 
abroad. 

( )n the appdintment of the Se}'bert commission for the 
investigation of the claims of sjiiritualism, Mr. Sellers 
was chosen a member of the commission, in consequence 
of his great knowledge of sleight of hand, in which he 
has been an expert since bo}'h(io(.l. He was the Amer- 
ican corresijondent of the British Journal of Photography 
in 1861-63, and has contributed many papers to technical 
journals. 



JllAKEKS OF PHILADRLPHIA. 



117 



JOHN DOBSON. 

JdllN l)i>l;.-(JX, head (if the extcil'^ixc carpet and wnnlleil 
snoods nianufactiiry nf [nlin & lames Dohson, is one of 
those cajjtains of indnsti'y and men of remarkable execu- 
tive ai)ility who lia\e made our cit\' the most im|)ortant 
m.miifictnrini^" centi'e of the L nited States. Mr. Dolison 
is a native of h'n_^huul, in whicli coinitr\- he was iiorn in 
1.S27. lie has, liowever, for more tlian forty years been 
a citizen of l'hiladel])hi.i, in whicli cit_\- he bcLjan the 
woollen manufacture in a mudest way shoitly ,ifter the 
middle of the century. Under his able and skilful 
management his luisiness rapiilK- incre.ised, continual 
enlargements being made to the mill and its plant, 
until I S66, in which _\-ear lii-^ brother |ames joineil him 
in the business, the present firm n.uile being then as- 
sumed. 

i\Ii-. Dob.son pos,se.sses an unusual talent in mechanics 
and power of grasping large affairs, and has an able and 
])rogrcssive coadjutor in his brother; and it is due to 
their energy and .ibility that their works ha\e gi'own, 
until now the_\- cc institute the lai'gest individual textile 
establishment of its class in the United States. The 
product of the Dobson mills is exceedingly varied, rang- 
ing from the finest silks, \el\ets, plushes, and ilress goods 
to ordinary yarns, cloths, blankets, aiul carpets, the last- 
named being its leading product. In active business 
\-ears from four to fi\-e thousand hands are emj:)loyed Ij)- 
tlie firm, and the ijroducts of tiicir looms are distributed 
thnuigh e\ery State and territory fniiii the Atkintic to 
the Pacific. The factories and warehouses of this firm 
are situated in Falls of Sclui_\-lkill vilhige. where they 
constitute an extensive group of buildings, while their 
.spacious retail store is situated on Cliestnut .Street, in the 
city. The name of the Dobsons. in truth, is known 
throughout the mercantile woi'ld, f(U' the\- purchase in 
foreign lands bv the shipload silks, <lyestiiffs, and other 
materials not produced in this countr)-. As regartls tlie 
character of their goods, it will suffice to sa_\- that their 
trade-mark is e\x'rywhere a guarantee of honest goods 
and skilful workmanshi]). In January, iSc^i.the exten- 
sive carpet mills of the firm were burned to the ground, 
entailing a loss of about one million dollai's. Vet with 
their characteristic energy the burned buildings were 
quickl}' restored, and the establishment was soon put 
again in full tide of operation. 

Mr. Dobson is politicalK' a stanch Republican, and a 
tirm lieliever that the principle of protection to American 




^^ .-> 




industry is the onl)- sound and secure foundation for the 
future safety and prosperity of the American (,'nion. He 
is an earnest and loyal citizen of Philadelphia and of the 
United States, outspoken in his support of the go\-ern- 
nient, and during the civil w.ir was not onl\- an ardent 
advocate of the cause of the North, but left his family 
and business to take a personal ]i.irt in the war. He was 
twice commissioned captain in the Peiinsvdvania Reserves, 
ami led his compan\- to the front. At the end of the 
war he entered upon that diligent prosecution of his 
business, in association with his brother, through which 
his comparatively small establishment of that da\- has 
develojied into the great manufactorv and salesrooms of 
the present time. Mr. Dobson is personall)' of domestic 
tastes and dev uted to home interests, his centre of enjoy- 
ment being his home at the l-"alls of .Schuvlkill, where, 
in the bosom of his familv ami in the love of country 
life, he enjoys existence with the highest zest. His chief 
recreation is his dailv tlrive through T*'airmouiit Park, to 
the cit_\' office of the tirm, Liehind his well-known horse, 
" Morgan," and the famous trotter," New \'ork Central," 
which has a record of 2.1 ,. .A h.ile, hearty man of 
sixtv-seveii, the wealth he has accumulated is not indi- 
cated in any pretension and ostentation, and the innate 
characteristics of the man are best shown in his cheerful 
countenance, full of courage and sincerit)-, and the genial 
spirit and cordial address which mark his intercourse 
with his friends and business acquaintances. 



iiS 



3fAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




ROBERT C. OGDEN. 

Robert C. Ogden was bdin in Pliil.ulclphia, June 20, 
1S36, being tlic son of JonatlKin (Jgclen, who tlieil in 1S93, 
antl is (.leseentled from early Anieriean settlers. About 
ir):50 Riehard anti John ( )L;(len, I'uritans, cinigrateLl Ironi 
ICnglaiul to Conneetieut, settling ne.ir the ]jresent town 
of Stamford. Rccortls of these l^rothers e.\ist in earh" 
colonial arelii\'es, the oldest being a contract to build a 
church in New Amstertlam (now New York) in 1642. 
Robert C. Ogden is in the si.xth gener.ition in direct 
descent fi-om Richard ( )gden. Members of the family 
settled in New Jerse}' about 1700, and in 1830 Jonathan 
Ogden, abo\e mentioned, removed from liritlgeton to 
I'hiladelpliia. Mr. Ogden has also Welsh ancestr)- on 
his father's side, embracing the Jtidxins funil)' of early 
I'liiladelphia history, and the S\\iime_\s of Cumberland 
Count}', New Jersey. On his mother's side he is of Eng- 
lish and .Scotch-Iiish descent, through his great-grand- 
fither, John Ashburner, an ICnglishman who came to 
Philadelijhia after the War of the Revolution, and his 
maternal grandfather, Robert Rhu'phey, who \vas born in 
Count)' Antrim, Ireland, in 1776. 

Mr. Ogden was educated in Philadelphia schools aiid 
at the New London v\cademy, Chester County. I'emisyl- 
vania. He left school while cjuite young, not ha\ing 
attained his fourteenth \'ear of age, and in 1854 removed 
to New York, where he remainetl till 1871;, returning to 
Philadelphia January I of that ) ear. In New York 
he was for a number of years a member of the once 
famous clothing firm of Devlin & Company. In 1SS5 
he became a member of the firm of John Wanamaker, 
and continues activeh' engaged in the business of that 
establishment. 

Apart from his business interests, Mr. Ogden takes an 
acti\'e part in man\' religious, social, and bene\olent 



movements of Philadelphia. Politically his \-iews arc 
Republican, but he takes no active part in politics. He 
is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and has been 
acti\e in the Presbyterian Board of Publication, the 
Board of Ministerial Relief the Presbyterian Hospital, 
and the Presb\'terian Social Union. In 1885 he was a 
commissioner to the Presbyterian General Assembly. 
He is chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ilollond 
Memorial Church, and has had much to do with the 
erection of its beautiful edifice at Broad and P'ederal 
Streets. He is liljcral in religious views, being warmK' 
attached to the jirogressi\e element in the Presb)'tcrian 
Church, and acted as a member of the famous Conference 
of Liberal Presbyterians held in Cleseland, November, 



1S93, was a signer 



of the Clexeland declaration, and 



served on the committee f )r its tlisscmination. 

Mr. Ogden has been acti\'e in philanthropic work, 
having been an acti\e trustee of the Hampton Institute 
for Afro- American and Indian Youth, near P'ortrcss 
M<_inroe, \'irginia, for twenty-fixe \'ears. Since I 889 he 
has been a member of the Citizens' Permanent Relief 
Committee of Philadelphia, and in this capacity was ac- 
tive in forwarding supplies to the Johnstown and other 
Hooded districts in the summer of that year, and was one 
of the acti\e members of the Flood Relief Committee 
appointed b\- Governor Bea\'er for the administration of 
the great sum subscribed fir the relief of the fli^od suf- 
ferers. In 1892 he was chairman of tlie P'inance Com- 
mittee of the Citizens' Permanent Relief Committee for 
the Russian l-'amine Relief and in 1893-94 of that for 
the relief of the unemploj-ed. 

Mr. Ogtlen did field diit_\' dm-ing the war with the 
Twent_\--third Regiment, N. G. S. N. Y., cspeciall}' during 
the Gettysburg campaign in 1 863. He continued with 
the regiment in that campaign, returning home with it 
to aid in the suppression of the tlralt riots. He held 
connnissions in this regiment, and also upon the stalf ot 
the I^lesenth Brigade, of which it was a part. He is at 
present a member of Meatle Post, No. i, Grand Arni_\' of 
the Republic. In addition to the above, he is a member 
of the Lhiion League, Manufacturers', Art, ami Con- 
temporary Clubs of Philadelphia, and of the Hamilton 
Club of Brookl)ii. 

Mr. Ogden has occasionalh' contributed to newspapers, 
and has been a frequent public .speaker at social, benevo- 
lent, and religious gatherings. His published addresses 
have been " The Unveiling of the Monument to the Lhi- 
known Deatl," Johnstown, 1892; "Progressive Prcsby- 
terianism," at the centennial of the Finst Presbyterian 
Cliuich, Hridgeton, New Jersey, 1892. He has publishetl 
in book form " Pew Rents and the New Testament ;" 
"The Perspecti\-e of .Sunday-School Teaching;" and 
" Samuel Cha|)man Arnistrong, a Memorial Address, 
j Founder's Da_\', IIam|)ton Institute, Januar)- 28, 1894." 



.VAK/^RS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



119 



JOHN WANAMAKIiR. 

John W'anamakf.k was Ixun Jiil\- 11, 1S3S, in the 
southern [lart of IMiilacielphia County, and wdrl^ed. wliile 
attendiuL; the puhh'c school of that section, in a brick- 
x'ard c.iiTietl on by his father. At fointeeii lie let! school, 
and oht.n'ued a position as messent^er-hoy in the puh- 
lishini^ liouse of Troutnian & Ha_\-cs, Market below loftjl 
Street. Some time afterwarils liis fimil_\- mox-ed to 
Inclian.i, but retuined tn l'hil,idel])hi.i in iSi*), when he 
obtained a positicjn in the ret.iil clothini; stoi'e of l^arclay 
Lip]5incott, coi'nei- of I'ifth and Market .Stieets, Me .subse- 
i|uentl)' obtained eniplnynient at a hi;4her salarv with 
Josepii M. Bennett, proprietor of the Tower 1 bill clotliiiiL; 
store, tlien the l,UL;est in Philadelphia. " |ohn was cer- 
tainl\- the most ambitious boy I e\er s,iw." s.iys Mr. Ik-n- 
nett. " I used to take him to lunch witji me, and he wonkl 
tell me liow he was i^oinL,^ to be a L;reat merchant. Me 
w.is ai\\a_\'s orL^anizinL,'' sometliin<^. Me seemed to be a 
natural-bi )rn oi-L;,inizei'. This faculty is pr(.>babl)' larL;el\' 
accountable for his great success in after-life." 

In 1858 he went to Minnesota for liis liealth. On his 
return lie iiecame Secretary of the ^^>lmL;■ Men's Christian 
Association. ( )n the outbre.ik of the w.n- lie sought to 
enlist, but was refused on account of the weak condition 
of liis bms^s ; and on the day that Fort .Sumter was fired 
ui)on, he openetl a small clothiuL; store at the south-east 
corner of Sixth and Abuket Streets, in association with 
Mr. Natlian l^rown, afterwards his brother-indaw. The 
business was small ; the sales of the hist _\'ear were less 
than S-5.000. Jkit his enerL;)- and unceasing" attention 
to tlie details of his business caused it to grow w ith much 
rapidity, until in time it tlexeloped into what was admitted 
to be the largest retail clothing Inisiness in ,\meiica. 

Other ventures followed, notably that at 81S-820 
Chestnut Street. In 18^3 Mr. WancUiiaker conceived 
the idea of combining his two stores into one great estab- 
lishment, to be erected on the site of the recently wacated 
freight depot of the P. R. R., at Thirteenth and Market 
Streets. In 1876 this establishment was opened; but the 
otlicr stores were not remo\ed, as had at first been con- 
templated, Mr. Wanamaker ha\ing changed his plans and 
decided to make this a grand genei-.d store, such as at 
that time did not e.xist in America. It marked ,1 new 
epoch in business methods, which since then luis been 
widely copied in the great cities of the L'nited .States. 

During the Centennial l'',.\i)osition Mi-. Wanamaker 
servetl on its Board of l'"inance, and was \er_\- efl'icient 
in raising the necessai-_\- funils. He was chairman of the 
Bureau of Re\enue and of the Press Cc)nnnittee, and 
served on other committees of the J^oard of {"in.uici-. 
Me had a strong interest in public affairs, and acted as 
chairman of the Citizens' Relief Committees for the Irish 
Famine Sufferers and the Yellow I"e\-er Sufferers of the 
South, and took part in various other charitable move- 




ments. He w.is also a member of bank boards and tru.st 
companies, and ol the directorship of se\era! bene\'olent 
associations, h'or eight years he ser\-ed as Pi'csident of 
the Young Men's Christian Association of Philadelphia, 
the buikling of the Association at P^ifteenth and Chestnut 
.Streets being eivcted during his administration. 

In political life he was a member of the Cnion League, 
and ser\ eil as chairman of a committee appointed to aid 
in the election of Presi(_lent llai'i-ison. Me had hitherto 
declinetl all offers of nominaticm to public places; but 
when the President nominated him as Postmaster-General 
in his Cabinet, in recognition of his efficient ser\'ices 
during the canqjaign ami his eminent business abilit\-, he 
was induced to accept. 

As Postmaster-General, Mr. A\'anamaker introduced 
into the dep.irtment the efficient Inisiness methoils to 
which his own great success in life had been tlue, con- 
ferretl fre(|uently with his subordinates, and succeeded, 
by his leniarkable talent in orgain'zation, in adding greatly 
to the efficiency of the postal ser\ice. Me remaini.'d in 
this post till the close of Presiilent Harrison's administra- 
tion, and then returned to the management of his great 
business interests. 

Farly in life Mr. Wanamaker became an earnest mem- 
ber of the Presl))-lerian Church, and has shown the 
greatest intei'est in temi)erance and .Sunday-school work, 
rile outcome ot the latter is the world-tamed Bethan)' 
.Snnda_\'-school. first established by him in a \ery humble 
way in 1858, and which now has thirt_\-si,\ luuulred 
scholars and one hundred antl tw eiitx'-eight teachers and 
officers. While tluis engaged in duties at home and 
abro.id. Mi'. Wanamaker has kept a firm grasp on his 
business interests, and it is due to his efficient manage- 
ment that his establishment has gained its deserved repu- 
tation of being the greatest retail store in the world. 



I20 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JOHN HUG(^,ARD. 

Jdiix HL'itdAKD was of Irish birth, hi-. iKiti\c town 
bcinij Tralce, Ci)unt\' Kerry, Ireland, where he was born 
May 21, 1S31J. I lis aneX'str}', liowever, wei'e not distinc- 
ti\el\' Irish, there heini;' in his \t'ins h"iv_;lish aiul French 
Huguenot blood, lie was educated in ( )'Hrien's Acad- 
emy in the city of Cork, and came to this countr\' when 
ten N'ears of age. I'hihidelphia becoming his home, he 
obtained there, while still c|uite \'oung. a position as 
assistant and salesman in the extensi\c dr_\-goods house 
of (jeorge 11. Stuart li I-Srother. Afler an active career 
as a salesman, he started business for himself as an im- 
porter of Irish linens. In this cnterpiisc his thorough 
knowledge of the busine•^s antl sterling tr.iits of charac- 
ter stood him in gooil stead, and he was not k>ng in gain- 
ing a satisfictor}' business standing, progressing until he 
stood in the front rank in his p.irticular line of ti'ade. 

So high was I\Ir. Iluggard's commercial standing, and 
so honor.ible his record in the cause of munici[)al reform, 
that when, in lSSl,the members df the City Councils. 
percei\'ing the necessit)' of a radical change in the man- 
agement of Blockle\- Almshouse, s<night suitable men to 
replace the e.visting Board (.)f (iuardi.ms of the Poor, 
Mr. Huggartl was chosen as ,i desirable candidate, and 
elected to this responsible oftice. In the following year 
he became President of the Board. This dep.irtment of 
the city government at that time s.idl)- needed new 
blood in its management. Disgracefid alnise^ had crept 
into it, and pi'aclices of a criminal character soon became 
suspected. An investigation (juicldy began, in which 
Mr. Huggard took a leading part; the result being that 
in August, 1882, Major Ellis P. Phipps, Superintendent of 
the Almshouse, was anvsted on a charge of defrauding 
the city. ( )n searching his house, large quantities of sup- 



plies belonging to the .\lmshouse were found. He was 
admitted to bail, Init absconded to Canada, from which 
he was subsecpiently returned under the extradition laws. 
The final result of the in\-estigation was a sentence of 
Major Philips to f<.}ur \'ears' imprisonment, and a com- 
plete reorganization in the management of the institution. 

Mr. Huggard continued a member of the Bi_)ard of 
Guardians until the election of Ma\'or Fitler in 1887, 
and the reorganization of the city departments under the 
new^ city charter. The old Board of Guardians now be- 
came the ]5ureau of Charities under the new Department 
of Charities and Correction, and new officers were ap- 
pointed. In 1893, Mr. Huggartl was restored to his for- 
mer field of duty, being ap[)ointed by Ma\'or Stuart one 
of the directors of the Department of Charities and Cor- 
rection, a position in which he continued until his death. 
In 1890 he was elected President of the Citizens" Trust 
and Surety Compan}'. In jiolitics he was an active 
Democrat, and in 1884 was one of the organizers of the 
Young Democratic Battalion, of which he became Presi- 
tlent in 1890. He was at different times tendered the 
Demociatic nomination for City Controller and Ma\-or, 
but declined. In 1893 he became a prominent candidate 
toi' the office of Postmaster of Philadelphia, ami a close 
contest ensued between him and William W. Carr for this 
]:)Osition. Mr. Huggard was endorsed by mmibers of 
prominent citizens and business men, but Mr. Carr had 
the strongest political influence, and obtained the nomi- 
nation. After the close of this ci.mtest his name was 
urged for the position of Superintendent of the Mint, to 
which he woukl probalily ha\e been appointed but for 
his rapidly-failing health. His tlisease was a rapid con- 
sumption, of which he dietl on Januar\' 24, 1894. His 
funeral took place from St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal 
Church, antl was attentled b_\' many prominent citizens 
and offki.ils, Mayor .Stuart officiating as one of the ]jall- 
bearers. 

In private life Mr. Huggartl was highl)- esteemetl, ami 
had a large circle of fiiemls. He was genial in his ad- 
dress, steatlfast in friendship, ami ])opular in e\ery asso- 
ciation to which he belongetl. He w.is a member of 
numerous clubs and societies, including the Ro\'al j\rca- 
num, the Albion Society, the Hibernian Society (which 
chose him its President during his final illness), the An- 
cient ( )rtler of United Workmen, the Eegion of Honor, 
the Merchants' and Salesmen's Association, and the 
Conmionwealth Club. He was also long a member of 
the Bachelors' Barge Club. During the war he served 
in the regiment of Gra)' Reser\'es. Mr. Huggard was 
in his religious ties a member of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church. He was a bachelor, and residetl in the home of 
his sister. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



121 



JOSEPH HARRISON, JR. 

Joseph Harrison, Jr., was born in Philadelphia, Sep- 
tember 20, 1 8 10. His grandfiither had been at one time 
a large landholder in New Jersey, but entered the Re\-o- 
luticinary arm_\-, neglecteil his pri\ate interests, and died 
poor in 17S7. His son, Joseph Harrison, .Sr., came to 
Philadel[)hia when young and entered the grocer\- busi- 
ness. His son, Jose[)h, [r., was born in a d.ul< hour 
of the famiU' fortiuies, and. after recei\ ing some little 
schooling, was a[)[jrenticeLl to learn the ste.im-engineering 
business, he ha\ing early displayeil a sti'ong inclination 
towards mechanical pursuits. Frederick 1). .Sanno, his 
first employer, failing, he was ap[)renticed to James Flint, 
of the firm of Hyde iv Flint, ami w.is made foreman of 
pai't of this est.iblishment, with tllirt}' men under him, 
before he was twent\' \'ears old. ,\t the age of twent\'- 
two lie entered the employment of Phili[) Garrett, manu- 
ficturer of small lathes, presses for Ijank-note engr.uers, 
etc., and in the \'ear 1.S33 went to I'ort Clinton, l'enns\-l- 
\'ania. where he established a foundiyfir .Arimdiis Tiers, 
with whom his fuher was engageil as accoimtant. In 
1S34 he first entered a locomotixedjuilding establishment, 
that of William Norris, and in 1835 ^^'•^'^ engaged b\- Gar- 
rett ^ I'.astwick as fireman, ,uul gi\en the duty of 
designing a locomotixe. In doing this, he ax'oided the ' 
defects with which his previous experience had made j 
him familiar, and the result of his work proved so sue- ' 
cessful that in 1837 he was admitted to partnership in 
the firm, his skill and energy taking the place of capital. 
In the previous vear, December 15, 1836, he had married i 
Miss .S.u'ah Poulterer. 

In two \-ears after i\Ir. Harrison's admission to the 
firm Mr. Garrett retired, and the firm title became Ilarri- , 
son & Plastwick. In 1840 he designetl fir the Reading 
Railroad Compan\' an ele\en-ton locomotive, which was 
said to be, f )r its weight, " the most effective locomotive 
for freight purposes that had been built an\-wherc." It 
proved to be the fiimdation of his firtunes. .\t that 
time two Russian engineers were in this countrj' with the 
purpose of investigating its railniad svstem. The\- saw 
the engine in question, took tlrawings of it, and, on their 
return, had engines built in Russia on the same designs. 
These proved so successful that an inquiry was made 
concerning the original inventor, and Mr. Harrison was 
invited to visit Russia. He went thither in 1843. and 
contracted with the authorities to buikl the locomotives 
and rolling-stock for the St. Petersburg and Moscow Rail- 
road. This contract, in which the late Thomas W'inans, 
of Baltimore, joined the firm, amounted to 53,000,000, 
the work to be done in five years and by Russian work- 
men in St. Petersburg. 

At that time official peculation and bribery were the 
rule of conducting business in Russia, and Mr. Harrison 
quickly perceived that there was trouble prepared for 

16 




him if he refusetl to Ijiibe the officials. lUit that w.is not 
his idea of business. He had come there to build niil- 
roatls, uot to enter into dishonest trickerv ; anti, in the 
entl, he ilefeated the schemes of the conspirators, won 
the confitlence of the I'.mperor Nicholas, and surprised 
the Russians b\' showing that works of public im])ro\'e- 
ment coukl be accomplished without fraud or pecida- 
tion. The emperor manifesteil his favor by giving 
diamond rings to the members of the firm, and con- 
terring on Mi". Il.irrison the Order of St. Ann, to the 
ribbon of which was attached a massive gold medal, 
bearing in Russian the inscription, " I'or zeal." During 
the time of their contract the firm also built a bridge 
over the Neva River, at St. i'etersljurg. This contract 
was f lUowed l)_v others, tiie most important being tliat 
signetl August 25, 1850, to m.u'ntain fir twelve years 
tile rolling-stock of the St. Petersburg and ^Moscow 
Railroad. 

Mr. Hanison I'eturned to Philadel])hia in 1852, to 
enjoy the wealth which his labors in Russia had brought 
liim. He built the splendiil Harrison mansion on 
Eighteenth .Street below Walnut, collected jiaintings 
and other objects of art. and formed the fine collection 
known as the Harrison Galler\-. 

During the succeeding years he invented a safetv 
steam-boiler, and spent the ve.irs from I 860 to 1863 in 
I'.urope while his plans were being worked out. The 
boiler ]M'oved a success, and he built a factory for 
its mauLifictm-e. Recognition of his success in this 
direction came to him from the American .Acadeni}- of 
Arts and Sciences, in the award to him of the Rumford 
gokl antl silve-r medals for improvement in the safet\- of 
b(jilers. In 1864 lie was elected a member of the Ameri- 
can Pliilosophicai Societ)-. He died March 27, 1874, his 
wife survivintj him. 



122 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



\ 




COLONEL THOMAS FITZCHRALL). 

Coi.oNia. TIl(lMA-^ 1<"itzGf.i<A[,ii, tlic \\(_n-kii<i\\n jour- 
nalist, drain. itist, aiul art critic, was Lurn in New Vrirk 
Oit\-, December 22, 1S19, and died in Londnn, Lji^^land, 
June 25, 1 .S(jl. 

C'dlcinel L'itzCierald was descended f Vi lUi the ("leraldines 
of IrelancLand w.is a warm friend of the kite Duke of 
Leinster. Colonel L'itzGerald be;j;an Iiis career by be- 
cominLj assistant edit(jr of the New Miunswick' Ircdo- 
nian. lie w,is soon after connected with the Xc7i< 
York Coiiiiiiiiriixl Advertiser. In 1S39 he \isited Florida, 
and was connected with The Iloridian, at Tallahassee, 
I'dorid.i. 

Colonel l'"il/.Gerald removed to Philadelphia in 1 S44, 
and, after havin;^ been connectetl with the IhilUtin and 
other journ.ils, hnall_\- established The Item in \'6^,^J . 

The paper was at first publishetl weekh', but inaile sucli 
a success tliat it was turned into a daily in 1S52, with 
such L;ratif\in;_; results that, before Colonel FitzGerald's 
death, the circulation had increased to 200,000 copies 
dail)' and Sunday. 

Colonel {•"itzGerald became a Contr(.)ller in the public 
schools, and was the first one to insist upon the intro- 
dLicti<in of music into the schools. He was also a direc- 
tor of the Musical LTmd Societ)- and a member of the 
L'nion LeaLjne. 

I ie w rote a number of plays that were \'er\- .successful, 
his first dram, I, " l.ii;ht at Last," ha\in;_;, in 1 .S68, achie\ etl 
a brilliant success with Mrs. John Drew .is the heroine. 
It was performed in New \'ork, Boston, CJiicai^'o, etc. 
He also wrote " WdKes at Bay," " Tancjlcd Threads," 
" I'.itrice" (for Miss Laura Keene), " Perils of the Niyht," 
etc. 



Colonel FitzGerald was a brilliant orator. 1 lis intimate 
fi'iend,the Hon. Charles Sumner, pronounced him <ine of 
the best extemporaneous speakers he had ever heard. 
Hon. Morton MacMichael declared tliat Colonel Fitz- 
Gerald was one of the wittiest after-dimier speakers in 
America. 

Hon. lohn W. L'orne)' was also an enthusiastic admirer 
of Colonel h'itzCier.ild's ability as an orator. Toj^ethcr, 
the}- stimipetl the State of Pennsyh.mia for Abraham 
Lincoln twice. Vix. Lincoln w.is a warm friend of 
Colonel I'itzGer.ild, as was also Hon. E. ^L .Stanton, 
Seciet.u'y of W'.ir tlurin_L; the Rebellion. 

hi 1844 he mariied S.u.di Levering Riter, a d.uii;hter 
of Dr. Georije W. Riter, .md a descendant of the cele- 
brated Le\eiin;,; fimily. Their surxivint,' chiUlren .ire 
Riter, HarrinLjton, Hiklebrantl, and i\Liude. 

In I S90 Cc)lonel L'itzGerald retired from business, 
trailsferriiiL; //'''' Item to his sons Riter, who became the 
dramatic, music. il, and art critic ; Harrington, whose busi- 
ness abilities .ire exceptional, as IVLanaging lulitor ; and 
Hiklebi.ind, whose \ersatilit\- is remarkable, as IJusiness 
Manager. 

Under their skilful m.magement The Item has grown 
more prosperous th.m i-ver, .md is one of the most valu- 
able publications in the L'nited States. 

While on a tour through L^urope with his son Riter, 
Colonel FitzCier.ild expireel suddenK' from an attack of 
influenza. His bodv was brought home and Innied in 
Mount Moriah Cemeter_\-, beside his wife. 

Colonel L^itzGerald bore the reputation of being one 
of the most popular and successful journalists Phila- 
delphia has possessed. He left an e.state valued .it 
53,000,000. 

His pamphlet on " Ahisic in our Pulilic .Schools" 
achieved a wide popularit}-, and portions of it were re- 
published in the journals of London with highl\- com- 
plimentary remarks, the London Te/e^i^rn/^/i remarking 
that it w.is one of the most thoroughl)- practical and 
\-aluable publications on the subject th.it h.id e\er ap- 
peared. 

Colonel L'itzGerald practised what he preached. He 

wa.s generous in his tlonations, and presented to the 

I Academy of the Line Arts Bisbing's celebrateil picture, 

' " Dans la Prairie," which w.is awarded a med.il in the 

Paris Salon. 

Colonel L'itzGerald's jirix-ate bequests were numerous, 
but he left a special request that they should not be 
made public. 

He consented to [iresent his large and valuable collec- 
tion of paintings to the Academy of the Fine Arts, if 
the directors would place them in a special gallery, to be 
called " The FitzGenild Collection." 



MAKERS OF PlIILADELPIITA. 



123 



COLONEL CHAPMAN BlDDI.i:. 

CiiAi'M \\ HiDin.i-:, (liNtiiiL^uislu-d alikf as a lawyer ,mil 
a soldier, was l)i)ni in l'hila:lcl])liia, Januar)' 22, 1822. 
] U- was cifsccii(k-il from a famil}' liin<:^ ])r()mim'nt in the 
histur\- (if tlic city, John liiddU- haxan^" cnnu' fmni the 
family seal in New [ersey tn riiihulelpiiia in 1730. < )f 
liis sons, ( )weii was a prominent patriot in l\.e\iihitionai'\' 
times and Clement an arti\e offiei_-i' in the war. A son 
of the latter, Clement Cornell, was the orj^ani/.er and first 
captain of the State l'"eiicil)Ies of this cit_\-, and was colonel 1 
of the First ReL:;iment of PennsyKania Vokinteers in the I 
War of i,Sl2. Chapman Piddle, the sul)ject of our 
present sketch, was his son. He re'ceived a cnllei^iate 
education at St. ALiry's Collei^e, l^.iltimoie, and after his 
i^radnatioii traxelletl in South .America. ( )n his return 
to Phihulelphia he entered upon the study of law, and 
was admitted to the bar in 184S. 

Mr. liiddle luul inherited from his fuller decided mili- 
tary tastes, and CiU'l)' associati-d himself with military 
ort;"ani/,ations. DuriiiL;" the serious Nativ'C American riots 
in I'hiladelphia in 1844, he served as oi'derly sert^eant in 
a volunteer company largely composed of llis jiersonal 
friends. In iS4(j, when the cit}- was aL;ain tiie scene of 
riotous indceedings, Mr. liiddle aided to reorL,'anize the 
old comp.ui)', which had been disbandeil, and acted as 
its captain. In .Xiiiil, l8r)i,,i few days after the firiuL; on 
Fort Sinnter, he, with some other memhei-s of his former 
coni]ian_\', organized a compau)- of artilkr_\-, which con- 
tained ne.irl)' all the members of iIk- old Company 1. 
Mr. Piddle was nametl captain b)' acclamation. It was 
attaclietl to the I-"irst Regiment of .\rtillery and desig- 
nated as Comp uiy .\. 

The com])an_v was organized for home protection, but 
in August, 1862, after the diastrous ending of the A'irginia 
cam]),ugns of that \'ear, Mr. jiidtlle set al)out the r.iising 
of a rcgi:iicnt of infantr\-, with the aid of his cousin. 
Colonel Alexander Piddle. This legiment was mustered 
into the ser\-ice as the ( )iu- llundretl and Twenty-first 
Penn.syhania \'olunteers, u ith Chapm.ui Piiddle as colonel 
and Ale.Kander Pitidle as major. It left Philatlelpliia, 
Sc[)lember 5th, more than eight hundre<l strong, antl 
went into camp at Washington. Here the stead)- disci- 
pline maintained and the untiring energ\- ilisplayetl b)- 
its colonel raised it to great efficienc}'. It was attached 
to the F'irst Arm\- Corps, antl did e.vcellent duty at the 
battles of F'redcricksburg, Chancellors\ille, and (lettys- 
burg. In the first-nameil conflict it hail the post of 
honor on the extreme left, antl suffered se\erel_\-. 

At Gettj'.sburg, Colonel Piddle was gi\t'n the command 
of a brigadier-general, ha\-ing under him four regiments 
and a battery of four guns. On the first da_\'s fight this 
brigade occupietl the left wing of the Union line, the ( )ne 
Flundred and Twent)--first Penn.syhania forming the 
extreme lelt. It was overlap[)ed by the eneni}-, and 




exposed to an oblitpie as well a.s a front fire, so that it 
suffered terribly, onl\- one-third of tlie brigade being left 
at night. Colonel Piddle was wounded in the head, liul 
not seriously. llis horse was shot under him. In the 
second and third d.i_\s' rtglit tln' bi-igade formed part of 
the supporting force, and suffered but little, i ie remained 
with the ami)- till the follow ing winter, when im])ortant 
])ri\ate considerations and the wtak state of llis health 
compelled him to resign, and he was lionoral)l}' dis- 
chargeil fiom the ser\ ice, December lO. 1863. As a 
soldier Colonel Piddle had exceptional abilit\% aiul " it 
.was not found in .uiy command that was gi\-en liim, 
whether in the command of a I'egiment or of a bi'igade 
in battle, that he was not perfectl)' the master of the 
situation and of the handling of the force that wa.s 
intrusted to him." 

.After leaving the army he applied himself closely to 
the pi'actice of his profession. In 1871 he was ajiiiointed 
solicitor of the Penns\-l\'ania Raihdad Comjian)', ami in 
i8j7 became the general counsel of that corporation. 
In 1S79 he resigneil these positions, his resignation taking 
effect January i, 1880. I'or many \'ears jiis practice was 
principally that of a consulting counsel, but in later life 
his practice called him into the courts, where lie showed 
fine abilit)' in the management of cases. W'hile not an 
orator, he was always fluent, aiul had a sti'ong influence 
upon court and jurv. ( )ii the occasion of the presenta- 
tion to the Hi.storical Societ\' of Pennsylvania of a paint- 
ing of Cicneral Re)-nolds, Colonel Piddle delixereil an 
aildress on "The I'irst Da)- of the Pattle of Gettysburg," 
w Iiich was subsecjuentl}- printed b)- the Socictj-. I Ie 
was prominently connected with the F'airmount Park Art 
Association, lieing cliairman of the committee on works oi 
art, and active in the labor of embellishing the Park with 
statuary and fountains. He died December 9, 1880. 



124 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




WILLIAM I,. HLKINS. 

William Lukkns Iu.kixs was born in Wcstci'n Vir- 
ginia, Ma_\' 2, 183.2, of Quaker ])arentage ; liis fitlicr, 
George W^ I^ll^ins, being one of the earliest paper ni,uui- 
faetureis in this eountry. Me eanie with his p.iients to 
Philatleljjhia when but eight years of age, and was edu- 
eated in the pubhe scliools of this cit\-, leaving school at 
the age of fifteen to accejit a po^ition as eiiti')' eleik" in a 
store. A _\-e>u' afterwartis he engaged in tlie liiinber 
business, and was buikling up a prosperous trade in that 
line, when a freshet s\ve[)t away his stock and ruined his 
prospects. In 1S52 he engaged in the produce business 
in New York, w ith fair success ; but after a year returned 
to Philadelphia, , nil] eiiteretl into the same line of busi- 
ness in partnership with I'eter Sa\'boldt. The hrin was 
located at .Second anil Callowhill Streets, and prospered 
so greath^ in their undertaking that in time thc)^ came to 
transact what was probably the lai'gest produce business 
in this country. 

In 1860, Mr. Pdkins bought out the interest of his 
partner, aiitl conducted the business alone until the " (jil 
fe\'er" broke out. Seeing opportunities for profit in this, 
he invested in oil company shares, ami soon after sold 
out his business and repaired to Western Penns_\'lvania, 
where he made a thorough investigation of the oil re- 
gion. Convinced that petroleum had come Xo sta\', he 
returned to Philadelphia and engaged in the business of 
refining the crude oil, in which he was one of the pio- 
neers. He bought out several small refineries, leased the 
"Belmont Oil-Works" on the Schuylkill, and in a short 
time found himself in possession of the entire field of oil 
refining in Philadelphia. At that time the total output I 
of his works was about six hundred barrels a week. His ; 
business grew, however, with great rapidit}-, the capacity 
of his pLuit increasing, till in time he was producing o\er 1 



twenty thousand barrels a month. The first gasoline 
ever made was produced at his works, and this article 
became an important addition to his products. His 
works were several times destro\'ed b_\' fire, but after each 
disaster they were rebuilt and extended. He became 
also part owner in se\-eral oil wells, and engaged in sink- 
ing others, purchased the " Riversiile ( )il-Works," on the 
Alleghany Ri\'er, — wdiich he afterwartls sold to his bro- 
ther and others, — and engaged in the maiuificture of 
gas, gradually liecoming connected with a large number 
of gas-works throughout the United States. In Ma\", 
1875, he formed a iiartnership with the Standard Oil 
Company, and in 1880 sold out his interest t<j the coni- 
pan)-, simjily retaining some of its stock, but gi\ing up 
all acti\e connection with the business. 

Mr. l<llkins had other business interests in xiew, into 
which he soon entered with his full energy. In associa- 
tion with William II. Kemble and Peter A. Widener he 
in\-ested largeh' in stieet railwa\- shares, and formed with 
them the plan of organizing a controlling company which, 
b\- oper.iting a number of the most profitable roads ot 
the cit\-, would en.il)le them to economize expenses and 
act as feeders for each other. The result of theii' efforts 
was the formation of the Philadelphi.i Traction Company, 
which now controls the lines of the Union Passenger 
Railwa}- Compaii)-, the Chestnut ami Walnut aiul the 
Market .Street lines, and several other important lines; 
their cars reaching almost every section of the cit\-. The 
operations of Mr. P'.lkins and his associates were b\' no 
means confined to Philadelphia; they obtained interests 
in street railways in New York, Chicago, Pittsburg, and 
other cities, their business connections becoming great 
and widely exteiuletl. In compaii)- with Mr. Widener, 
l\lr. P'Jkins enteretl into extensi\e building oiierations in 
the inirthwestern section of the city, where the_\- pur- 
chased large tracts of ground aiul erected many substan- 
tial residences, w hich ha\e greatl\- de\'eloiK'd that part of 
the city. 

Mr. Elkins was marrietl in 1858 to Miss Louisa 
Proomall, of the well-known Delaware County famil}- of 
that n.une. Their famil\- consists of two sons and two 
(.laughters. He resides in a handsome resilience on 
Broatl Street above Girard A\-enue, one of the most 
striking architectural features of that section of the city. 
Politically he is a strong Republican, but has held no pub- 
lic position except that of a commissioner to represent 
the city of Philadelphia at the Vienna Exposition of 1873. 
He is a member of the Union League and of the Ma.sonic 
order, and a trustee of the Girard Estate. Personally, 
Mr. ]'",lkins is affable, kind, and heart)' in m.mner, and in 
business prompt and decisi\-e, being able to transact the 
numerous affairs demanding his attention with great ra- 
pidit\' and no apparent fatigue. He is of a genial, social 
temperament, a motlel husband, and a de\oted father. 



JirAKERS OF rilll.ADIlLPIIIA. 



125 



HON. ROBliRT H. PA'l'TlSON. 

IvdiucKi' IvMiiin Pattison is the son of tin- Kcv. Ivohcrt 
Hcnr\- Pattison, Iohl;" a pi-oniinent divine of the MethocHst 
E|)isco])al Ciuirch, and iiresidini;' eldei- from I (STh; to 1872. 
His nidthtr, Catharine I'. W'l " ihnid. was a danL;hter of 
Colonel Thnnias Woolford. of the iMan'land line in the 
Re\(ihitii 111. The snhject 1 il' our sketeli was hmn at 
Ouantico, AFai viand, 1 )eceinl)er S, l,S;o, and was l)rouL;ht 
to Phil.idel]ihi,i wlu-n six years of a;4e, on his lather re- 
ceiving an appnintineiit tn Asi)ury I'luncli in tluit city. 
His educ.itiiin w.is reci'i\ed in the Philadelphi.i puijlic 
scliools, ,ind he L;r.idiiated honi the (Antral lli^-^h School, 
deliverinL; the \aledictor_\' adiii'ess of his _L;i-aduation class. 

At the sugj.jestion of Professor Riclie of the Hit^h 
School, he selected the Liw foi" his pI■ofL■■^-^ion, .md en- 
tered the ofllce of Lewis C. Cassidy, at th.it time oiu' of 
the most l>rilliant aiK'ocates of the i'hil.idelphia hai'. In 
18-j lie was .idmittetl to practice. His prospects of 
success as a ia\v\er \\ ei'e pidmi^iiiL;, hut liis [predilections 
ami iiis llueiit n-adiiii.-ss as a public speaker led him in 
an<itiier direction, and iiiduceil him to ^iw up the pursuit 
of a le_L;al lor th.it ol ,1 political c.ueer. 

liis political ,if"filiatioii w,is with the I )eniocratic pai't_\-, 
and his .iljle adxncacy of its doctrines i.)rouL;"ht iiini so! 
|)rominentlv lorw.ird in its councils th.it in 1877 he was 
named .rs ,1 c.milid.ite fir .\uditoi--Ci(nLi',d of i'enns\-l- 
\'a!li,i, Init was tJLfe.iteLl in the party con\ ention l)\" Wil- 
liam P. .Schell. A few months afterwartis, at Mi-. Cas- 
.sidy's suggestion, he was nomin,ited foi' the office of Cit\ 
Controller. This department of the i it_\' government at 
that time badly needei.l ref irmiiig, ami CLlled fir ,ui e-\hi- 
hition of elTicienc}- in its incumlRiit which had been seri- 
ously lacking. 'l"he people were in the mood to re\-olt 
against mismanagement, and Mr. Pattison was elected I 
Controller b_\' ,1 niajorit}- of two thous.uid, iecei\ing a 
large Republican sujjport, .uid iiuniing eight ihous.uul 
ahead of his part)' ticket. 

The citizens IkuI been wise in their choice. Mr. P.itti- 
son recognized that he had been sent there to ref irm the 
office, and at once set about doing so. The cretiit of 
the cit)' was impaired and its p.iper at a iliscount. The 
new Controller .ulopted a funding system, brought the 
cit)' finances again into order .ind repute, and ga\'e such 
general .satisfaction that at the' next election he was re- 
turned to the office with a m.ijorit)' of thiiteen thous.uid 
five hiuidred and ninet)'-three, though opposed b)' one of 
the most esteemed citizens of Phil.ulel]ihia. This was in 
no sense a part)' triumph, but one solel)' due to hone.st)' 
and efficienc)' in office, for in the same election the Repub- 
lican part)- of the cit)' gainetl ;i majorit)- of o\'er twent)' 
thousand for the Presitlential candidate. Mr. Pattison's 
official probit)' had wdii him the confidence ,nid respect 
of the people irrcspectise of part)', and .it the ensuing 
election for Governor, in l88j, he recei\ed the nomina- 




tion, ;ind w-;is elected b)' a ])lurality of fort)' thousand 
twii hundn.'d .ind tw ci o\ er the Republican camlitiate, 
being the first Democratic Governor of the .State for 
thirt)- )e.irs. Honest)-, eiierg)-, independence of political 
jobber)', ,unl successful administratioii rif the city finances 
IkkI Weill him this high ofi'ice, citizens widel)- X'oting for 
him without reg.ird to part)- lines. 

As ;i Goxernor he ])ro\ed a success, the .State finances 
being economic. ill)' nian;iged, the (.lebt steadil)' reduced, 
and e.vtravag.mt appropiiations strongly discountenanced, 
while corporations wei'e held to ;i strict oliedience to tlie 
l.iws. In 1887 he retired fi'om office, as uiuler the State 
Constitution no goxeiiior can hold office foi' two succes- 
si\'e terms. A leading Republican newspaper gave the 
following testinioiu' as to his official integrity; " Go\'- 
ernor Pattison retires fiom <iffice with the encomiums of 
p(.)litic;d friends .md foes, with the 'well dories' of the 
peo])le ringing" in his e.irs to cheer his heart, lie made 
the sort of ruler that the people like. He was hold and 
fearless, and he was not afr.iid to do or sa)' what he 
thought was right." 

( )n returning to priv.ite lile he resumed the practice of 
law, and was soon after elected President of the Chest- 
nut .Street Xation.d H.mk. B)- ap[)ointment of Pi-esident 
Cle\el.ind he acted as President of the Pacific Railroad 
L'ommission, .ind ga\-e a most \aluable re])ort as to tile 
financial state of tliat corporation. In 1890 he was ag;iin 
nominated for Gox'ernor, on a [)latform of refoi'm, and 
carried the State with a majorit)' of sixteen thousand fixe 
humlred ;uid fifU'-four. running thirt)'-sevcn thousand 
aheatl of his part)- ticket. His existing term of office 
has been cliaracterizcd b)- the same fine qu.dities which 
distinguisheil the foiiiier one, and Gox'ernor Pattison 
stands to-da)- among the most [)o]iular and liighh'- 
respectcd citizens in the State. 



126 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




WilJJAM (:rami\ 

W'li I lAM ( 'KAMI', sliip-buildci", was horn in KciisiiiLjton, 
then .1 suburb of Philadclpliia, PennsyK-ania, in 1806. 
His ancestors were ami>nj^ the first who settled in I'enn- 
s\l\ania. William Cramp received a thorou;^]i ImiljHsIi 
education, antl when he left school associated with Sam- 
uel (irice, one of the most eminent na\'.d aichitects of 
that da_\'. In 1S30, havini; mastered all the details of 
shipdniilcliiiL;-, he eiiLias^eil in the business on his own ac- 
count. 15}' reason of his business ability ami the superior 
([Lialit)' of the vessels which he constructed, his aff.iirs 
jjrospercd from the outset, and his ship-\-ard has since 
L^rown into the most extensive and best-e(|uipped estab- 
lishment of its kind in the United States, and equal to 
any in the uiirld. His sons as they i^^rew to manhood 
learned their fithor's profession, and were admitted as 
paitiiers in his luisiness. In 1S7J. the hrm was incor- 
poiated under the name of "The William Ciamp & 
Sons' Ship is: EnL;ine Buildintj Compan)-."' I'ntil i860 



the Cramps were enj^^Ljetl in the buikling of wooden 
vessels, sliips, brii^s, barkentines, etc., but the\- kejjt pace 
with all the aiKances in the art of ship-building; and 
when, at the opening;" of the Ci\il War in 1861, there wa.s 
an unexpected demanil for war \essels, the)' were able 
to meet it i)romptl_\-. 

In person, William Cramp was a trifle below medium 
heiglit, but of massi\-e build and strikiiv^ presence, which 
causeil him to appear l.irger than he I'eally was. Being 
thoroughly master of e\cr\- branch of the art in his day, 
he was alwa\-s the acti\'C superintendent of his sliip-)'ard, 
and his \ igil.mce and diligence ne\er relaxed until his 
last illness. In business circles his name was a synonj'm 
for honor and iii'oliity, anil, though soreK^ beset at times 
b_\- the \icissitu(les of industrial operations, he never 
failed to meet his obligations or to complete his con- 
tracts to the ktter. This was strikingh- exemplified 
during the Ci\il W.ir, when prices of material and labor 
were const. uitl\- rising, so that contracts matle on the 
basis of existing prices wduld need to be cari'ieil out 
untler market conditions much less ta\di-.d)le. Under 
these circumstances William Cramp was com|)elled to 
exercise great financial foresight and sagacit\- as well as 
professional skill and diligence, but he proved ecjual to 
all emergencies. 

The " New Ironsides" was the most noteworthy of the 

triumphs of William Cramp and his sons, who were then 

I associated with him. When the contract for her con- 

1 structiini was signed, nearly all the timber of which she 

was to Ik- built stood in the forests. It was cut, bi'ought 

to the ship-\-ard, fashioned into shape, antl her hull, the 

hea\iest e\er built of wood, was framed, planked, decked, 

and plated in se\-en months, and in ele\-en months from 

the date of the contract she was in action in Charleston 

harbor. No such exiiedition was e\-er known before or 

since in the construction of so large and powerful a sliip. 

William Cramp died at Atlantic City, July 3, 1879, at 

the age of sevent_\--three years, after a career of unremit- 

tinsj activit\- lasting more than half a century. 



J/,}K/IRS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



12; 



CHARLES II. (.RAMI'. 

(Jl.\Kll-.^ Ili-,\K\ C"k\mi', wx'll kiMwn as tin- prtsiikiU 
of one of tlic larijcst .ship-biiildiiiL; coiiccins in llu; \\'orl(l, 
the " William Crainp & Sons' .Ship and h'.nL;inr HnildiiiL; 
Com]5any." is the cKlcst .son <>f William C'lMUip, the 
foundci' of that fimnns company, and was hdin in I'hila- 
dclpliia, M.i_\' 9. iSjS. 11c was educated in the I'hil.ulel- 
phia pnblic scImhIs, ^laduatinL; fi' mi the C'entral lli.n'h 
School in 1S45. W'hik' in lhi-> schncij ju' was one' of four 
.scholars selected b_\- I'lofessor liache, then ])i'esident of 
the school, to make niLjhtl}' observations hom the (iirard 
College obserx.itorv. Reprnts ol these iibser\ations were 
sent to \\'ashinL;ton, and the s\ stem thus inaut;urated 
formed the basis of that on which the SiL;nal Service 
Bureau has since been established. 

After his _L;raduatinn. the ynuth entered the shi[)-bnikl- 
ing \'ard of his inicle, |i>hn Hiiely, not bein;^ taken into 
hi.s fathei's y.u'il antil lie h.id obtained three \-ears' in- 
structinii (lutside. lie continued under his fuller's tlirec- 
tion his coiu'se of instructinii in n.ual architectiu'e — in 
which he was fiillowed b\' his ycumger Iirnthers — until 
1859, when he w.is taken intn [lartnership in the estab- 
lishment. After the death 1 >f his fitlier he became the 
head of the com])an_\-, w liicli w lIS then made np of himself 
and toin' )-oimL;er brothei's. 

Tt is lar;^ely due to the enterprise and industr}- of the 
Cram])s that the l)elaware River has fiirlv earned the 
title of "The Clyde nf .\meiica." The i^reat ship-yard 
was fouiuled b\' Willi, nil CicUiip in 1830. It e.\teni.ls 
along the river front fiotn I'lum to Cumlierland Streets. 
co\X'ring an e.xtensi\e tract nf ground. 

The work dding in this yard is of the most stupendous 
character. Years ago a mnnber ot large \esseLs were 
built, including the four steamers of the American Line, 
and se\'er<d monitors and frigates furnished the Gi)\ern- 
ment during the Civil War. .\t .1 later date three fist 
cruisers, the " I-lurope," the " .\si,i," and the " Zaliiaca," 
were supplied to the Russian ( 1( ixernnient, two great 
passenger ships, "Mariposa," and "Alameda," to run 
between San h'r.incisco and the Sandwich Islands were 
constructed, anil Ja_\- (iouliTs steam \-acht, the " Atalanta," 
remarkable at tli,it time for si/e and fniisli. w,is built. 

The work of marine construction here named, ini])or- 
tant as it was, has been thrown into the shade by the 




later acliievements of the _\aril. It has taken a very 
|ironiinent part in the buiklir(g of the new American 
na\"y, anil of the extrannlinarily last cruisers and ]5ower- 
ful war \ essels now bearing the flag of the United States 
the greater number were built in the }-ard of the Cramps, 
either large war \essels are now being constructed, some 
<if them being of o\er ten thous.md tons burden. In 
additinn to these, the C(jmi)any has also contracteil to 
build the two huge ocean steamei's, companions to the 
' Xew \'(irk" and " I'aris." These are well adxanceil. 
The gi'eat establishment is a \er)- hive of industr)-, em- 
jikn'ing ox'cr five thousand hands, and pi'esenting a scene 
of acti\it\- in ship-buikling whicll has few equals on either 
side of the Atlantic. There have been built here in all 
nearl\- three huiKlred \essels. 

(ireat credit is due the Cramps for their inno\ations in 
marine engineering. In 1870 the\- inlrotluced antl per- 
fected the construction of compound marine engines. 
In 1884 they made anothei' great step f)rward b\- the 
introduction of the tri]ile-e.\pansion engine. The effect 
of tluse inipro\ements is seen in the remarkable perform- 
ance of their recent additions to the United States na\y. 

Mr. Cramp is notid for keen powers of obser\ation, a 
proi)it\- of the strictest ch.iracter, and the reliance that 
can be placed upon hi.s slightest worii. 



128 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



\: 




GHORGH H. niiARBORN. 

Tiiic caixcr iif (jcoi'i^c 1'^. 1 )i.'aii)i>ni is a ix-niaikaljlc 
instance of what a man nf courage ami abilit)' can ac- 
C()m[)lisli in the face cit adxcrse circumstances. He was 
burn .April i fi, iS25,at Kensin!^t<_)n. RnckinLjham Count)-, 
New I Iam|)shire, the son of a firmer nanieil James Dear- 
born, one of those ruL;;_;ed sons cif toil whom we read 
about oftcner than meet, and in whom harel labor is 
i.ireK- rewartletl with L;ood fortime. llis father died when 
he was six j'cars of aye, and in 1S37, when twcKe }'ears 
of old, he was bound out to a farmer for the pittance of 
eiLjhtcen dollars a year .nul the pri\ileL;"e of three months' 
schooling. He pro\ed an apt scliolar, liowever, and after 
a year and a half with the farmer he accepted an offer 
from the school-master to act as his assistant, allured b\- 
the offer of thirty dollars a \-ear. When seventeen years 
of age, he returned to his original home and took charge 
of the farm, which he continued to manage till 1852. 
During this period he married, when JLLst twentv s'cars 
of age. He has had four chiklren, two daughters, who 
are still li\ing, ami two sons, (jne of whom died of con- 
sumption in Michigan, and the other wa.s drowned in the 
Indian (Jcean, within a day's sail of Australia. 

In 1852, Mr. Dearborn, fimling the life of a farmer too 
mtMiotonous fni' his tastes and mo\ed by his nati\e in- 
stinct for business, left the farm and engaged in general 
trailing, a line of business which in those days recjuired 
extensi\e travelling. At that time New England was not 
well provided with railroads, and his journeys needed to 
be made in the slow way of horse and wagon travel. 
One summer he dro\'e a single team in this wa)' o\er a 



distance cif fixe thousand miles. This laborious business 
was continued for ten j'ears, when he abandoned it to 
become travelling salesman for a New York varnish 
house. It was in this occupation that he first came into 
contact with piano dealers and manufacturers, and gained 
his first acquaintance witli the business in which he was 
afterwards to achieve success. His route of travel was 
from Boston to Washington, Philadeljjhia being one of the 
places \isited. On Xoxember 17, 1S67, he landed at the 
old Kensington depot with empt_\- pockets, — " strappetl," 
as he expresses it, — and since that time has been a citizen 
of Philadelphia. 

His connection with the New York house continued 
imtil and through the Centennial \-ear. But at the close 
of the W'orkl's Fair he saw what seemed an opiJ<_>rtunity 
to improve his fortunes. With a shrewdness and energy 
which ha\e ahvav-s been his characteristics, he associated 
with Henr)' F. Roebling, of Rocbling Brothers, Wilming- 
ton, Delaware, in the inuchase of a tlozen or more pianos 
whicli had been exhibited at the Centennial. Renting a 
store in the Young Men's Christian Association iiuilding, 
the new firm opened hei"e lor business on December I, 
1876. The {i^w pianos made for exhibition became the 
nucleus of the large business he now carries on. 

In 1S78 the firm mo\-ed into its present handsome 
building, No. 1508 Chestnut .Street. This edifice liad 
been erectetl during the Centennial _\ear for an uphol- 
sterer, but for some reason had not been occupied till 
Mr. F)earborn took it. In I 879 he bought out his part- 
ner's interest, and ccjntinued tlie business alone. About 
the same time he became interested in another line of 
business, antl established his son-in-law, Mr. George W. 
Smith, at No. 1216 Chestnut Street, under the firm name 
of George W. Smith & Co. Here was carried a fine 
stock of exjiensix-e bric-a-brac and fmcy fin'niture, and 
the firm became large importers of French clocks, bronze 
figures, etc. From that time to the present Mr. Dear- 
born's business and fortime ha\-e steadily grown, and he 
now stands among the prominent business men of Phila- 
delphia. In additi<in to his large retail trade, he has very 
successfully applied the instalment plan of disposing of 
his instruments, and lias more than two thousand thus 
distributed, representing an investment of ^200,000. He 
has also a fine store at No. 515 Shipley Street, Wilming- 
ton, Delaware. 

Mr. Dearborn personally is a man of fine physique, 
being six feet two inches in lieight, and admirabl}' pro- 
portioned, and so strong that man\- a time he has been 
seen carrj'ing one end of a heav\' piano with two stout 
men tugging at the other end. In society lie is genial, 
cultured, and entertaining. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



129 



KHV. WILIJAM HHNKY l-URNHSS. 

Um rARi.\Ni>M iiht.iinccJ no focitliwKl in I'liil.ulclphi.i 
until the closinL^ \fars of the last century, \s lien a L'ni- 
taiian Sneiet)' was fuiiiietl thinuL;]) tile innuencc of Dr. 
Joseph l'iiestk-\'. the eminent chemist, who had I'ecentl)' 
cmiL;i".iteil huni I'av^l.uul to I'ennsyK ,uii.i. This was in 
IJcj^i. It was not luilil 1S13 that the societ)' was able 
to l)Liikl itself a chmxh, this hein^ the octai;"oiial brick 
church, loni;- well known, at the north-east corner of 
'reiUli ,uiil Locust .Sti'eets. For tw\'nt\--eiL;]it years after 
the orii;"inal formation of the society it remained without 
a settled minister. .Several of the distinL,niislied preachers 
of New ]'".nL;land occasionall}- favoretl it with their ser- 
\ices, l)ut it depended maiiil\- on aiklrcsses by Ralph 
I'kldowes and fames Taxlor and the readiuL;' of printed 
sermons by John \'auL;han. 

In AuL;ust, 1SJ4, William llenry Fuiaiess, of Ikiston, 
preached before the societ)', and so acceptably, that, after 
lieariuL; liini four times, the_\' t;a\'e liim a unanimous call, 
and he w.rs ordained on J.uiuary M, 1SJ5. Mr. Furness 
was born in l^tiston in iSoj. lie L;radLiatei.l at Ilarwiid 
in 1820, and afterwards studied fir the ministr)' in the the- 
ological school at that institution. He was twenty-three 
years of aye when he became the first settled pre.icher 
of Unitarianism in Philadelphia, and began that remaik- 
abl)- long series of pastoral and oratorical services which 
has m.ide him the patriaich among Americni puljjit 
orators. His pastoral connection with the church con- 
tinued for fifty years, his resignation taking [jlacc on Jan- 
uary 12, 1S75, the fiftieth anni\ersar\- of his ordination. 
But this resignation was by no means a withdrawal from 
the church. He has continued from that day to this to 
delight the people b_\' occasional discourses, full ol his 
old power and i)lay of oratorical fancy; and still, in his 
ninety-second \-ear, his \oice is heard at intervals with 
much of its former clearness and v iv.icit}-. In this ex- 
traordinary I'etention of his powers he stands without a 
rival in the church. 

The societ)" was a weak and feefile one when he took 
hold of it. 1 )uring his extended ministr)- it grew strong 
in numbers and influential among the churches of the 
city. Only in one respect tlid an)- dissatisfaction ever 
exist between Dr. h'urness and his congregation. This 
came from his zealous and unflinching opposition to the 
inicjuities of sla\-ery, which he continued to maintain, in 
and out i_>f the pulpit, despite all opposition among his 




hearers. In those da)'s the pro-sla\er)' influence was 
supreme. Dr. Fuiness lived to see the da\" when agita- 
tion on this subject was no longer necessar)'. 

( )utside of this cause of tliscontent, his rt.:lations with 
his people continued of the mi_>st frieiidlv' character. He 
was never fontl of agitation, and disj)la)X'd al\va)'s a kive 
of the true, the beautiful, and the good which lecl him 
instinctivel)' to mild and gentle methods of advancing 
the spirit of Christi.m dutv' and i)iet)-. His influtnce has 
alwa)-s been thrown in the tlirection of good-will and 
refined feeling, and the ])roniotion of charit)- and human- 
it)' b)' all [leacefu! means, aiul in this direction he h.is 
been a power not onh- in his own chuich, but in the cit)' 
at large. 

Dr. Furness is the authoi- of nianv' beautiful h)'mns 
and of various works on the Gospels and the character 
of Christ. These include "Jesus and His Biographers,'' 
"Life of Christ," "Thoughts on the Life and Character 
of Jesus of Nazareth," " L'nconscious Truth of the Four 
Gospels," and others, some of them being translations 
from the German, including Schiller's "Song of the Bell," 
and other [xiems. 

Dr. Horace Howard Furness, his son, has gained great 
rejnite by his valuable " New X'ariorum lulilion of Shake- 
speare," acknowledgeil as perhaps the ablest antl most 
useful addition to Shakespearian literature of recent times. 
His lectures on Shakespeare and his times are also liter- 
ary feasts of the finest flavor. 



17 



I^iO 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




SAMUHL SFHVHNSi )N. 

Amont: tliL- men of the present eentmy who lia\e had 
to do witli niakini; Phihidelphia wliat it is, must be in- 
cluded the subject of our present sketch, the term of 
whose hfe ahiiost covered the century, and who at one 
time was one of the best-known of oiu' citizens, his active 
business and pohtical career beint; a part of the liistory 
of Philadelphia before the period of consolidation of the 
old cit\' with its surrouni.linL;' ilistricts. At this date he 
was one of the prominent fiL^au'es in Democratic cit)' and 
State politics, his period of political activit)- beini; con- 
temjjoraneous with that of TlKKldeus Ste\ens, James 
]-)Uchanan, and man)- others then and afterwards distin- 
guished in the history of the State and country. 

Mr. Ste\-enson was born in Philadelphia in the )'ear 
1805. After receiving his education, he engaged in the 
grocery business, anil at the age of eighteen started in 
trade for himself, in the grocer)^ and shijjping line, on 
Callouhill Street wharf, at that time owning several ves- 
sels. In this line of business he proved very successful, 
and, aftei- an active dexotion to it for about a quarter of 
a centur\-, retired from business in 1S47. During that 
time his attention was not solel)- directed towards his 
business' interests. lie had become interested in the 
politics of the cit)- antl .State, antl continued to give his 
attention to them after his retirement from business. 

His earliest official i:)osition was in connection with the 
old district of the Northern Liberties, in which his busi- 



ness was situated. He was elected a Commissioner of 
this district, and continued to serve it in that capacity 
for many \-ears, giving it up at length in consequence of 
failing health. The feeble state of his health now induced 
him to remove to the countr)- f >r the benefit of the fresh 
ail' and healing influences of open nature. After a period 
of rui'al residence of six j-ears, he returned to the cit\% 
antl soon entered upon a somewhat active political career. 
An interesting and important incident of his residence in 
the Northern Liberties district was the starting by him 
of what was known as a " Peggars' .School," its interest 
being in the fact that this school was realh' the starting- 
point of the public school s)-stem of Philadelphia. 

i\fter the consolidation of the cit\- in 1S54, he was 
electe<l a member of Common Council for the Eleventh 
Ward, the member of Select Council for the same ward 
being Samuel G. King, afterwards Ma\'or of the cit\-. 
Mr. .Ste\enson was elected to the Council for three con- 
secutive terms, and was finall)- offered the nomination of 
his part)' for the ma)'oralt)-. He had alwa)-s been an 
oKPtime Democrat, and his pait)' was at that time of 
such strength in the cit)- th.it ,1 iicimination was equiva- 
lent X.O an election, but he declined the proffered honor. 

The UKjst stirring part of Mr. Stevenson's career was 
in the Pennsylvania State Legislature, in which he served 
f(ir two or three terms as a member of the House, and 
was afterwards, October 12, 1.S38, elected to the Senate, 
in which he also served fijr several terms. His period of 
service in tile Senate was one of much acti\'it)' and con- 
tentioi-i, being that of the famous "Buckshot War," in 
which he was one of the participants, and in which Thad- 
deLis Stevens also figured. This arose out of a contest 
for seats in the Legislature, and for the time being was a 
periotl of no small excitement. Mr. Ste\'enson was one 
of those who came victorious out of the contest. While 
in the Legislature he cast his vote for James Buchanan 
f u- United States Senator, through the iutluence of John 
W. P"orne)', with whom he was on terms of the closest 
intimacy. 

Mr. Ste\enson had investetl his wealth in real estate, 
antl at his death was a large real-estate owner. He was 
one tif the organizers of the First Presbyterian Church of 
the Northern Liberties, antl a pew-owner until the time 
of his tleath. He tiled April I I, 1 886, in his eighty-first 
\-ear, from the effects of a stroke of paralysis which had 
attacked him two weeks before, his faculties remaining 
unimpaired till the hour of tleath. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



131 



HOWARD A. STHVF:NS()N. 

Howard .Vccrsiix Sua i-.nxin, the son df lion. Sam- 
uel Ste\'cnson, — of whose life \\c L;i\c a sketch opposite, 
— was horn in I'iiiladelphia, |,iniiary 2, 1S43, and was 
cdiicited in the schools of that cit)'. In 1S59 ''^' entered 
the wholesale driiL; house of /iey;ler & Smith, attcndint^ 
the CollcL^e of I'liarmac)' in the exeiliiiL; until he had a 
thoi'ouL;h knowledge of the [)harniaceutical profession. 
The outbreak of the Civil War brought his connection 
with this house to an entl. lie had early shown a pre- 
dilection for military service, becoming an acti\e member 
of the Second Regiment, Pennsylvania militia, and sub- 
.sequently the treasure!' of his comjianj-. After the out- 
break of the \\M he enlistetl, ami assistetl Colonel h"ry 
in recruiting his cavalry |-egiment, his recruiting station 
being in Independence Square. While thus engaged he 
received instiaictions h'om the Surgeoii-Cieneral of the 
Na\al Department to report at Washington for exam- 
ination, with a view to appointment in the Medical Corps 
of the L'nited .States Navy. Passing the e.xaniin.ition 
.successfulh', he was ordered to report for duty on the 
United States steamer " State of Georgia," and remained 
on her till the end of the war. 

( )ii I'etuining to ci\il life, he entei'ed the wholesale 
drug house of A. V. Ha/aril i<: Co., with whom Ik' re- 
mained about thi'ee _\'ears. In 1870 he succeedeil them 
in business, in partnership with Lewis U. Bean, the firm 
name being Bean & Stevenson. The business thus pur- 
chased had been established in iSj.2, and was the oldest 
ami perhaps the best of its kind in the cit\'. The I<.)ca- 
tion of the new firm was at 113 Arch Street. In 1873 
Bean & Ste\enson bought oLit the stock' of the long- 
established firm of Wetherill ^v Biothei', wholesale drug 
dealers, at 47 ami 40 North Second Street, an<l removed 
to that locality. XW'therill 6t Brother had been princi- 
pally engaged in the South Ameiican trade. ,uid tlieii' 
business, added to that pre\iousI\' possessed b\' the firm, 
ga\-c it the most impoitaiit ilrug trade in the city. I )iuing 
this ])eiiod i\Ir. Stexensoii had become a member and 
director of the Philadelphia I 'rug Ivxchange, in whose 
affairs he took an active interest. In 1878 he retired 
from mercantile life and became connecteil w ith the street 
railwa\- s)-stem, a connection which still continues. 

Having pinxhased an interest in the Cireen and Coates 
Streets Passenger Railwa\- Company, he was elected .1 
director of that corporation in |anuary. 1S71), and in July 
of that \-ear was m.ule its president. This offn e lie held 
till the railwa)' was leased, in 18S1. Iiy tlu- People's 
Pa.ssenger Railway Compaii)-. He w.is offi^red the vice- 
presidency of the consoliilated companies, but declined, 
anil became interested in the Lombard and South Stieets 
and the West lintl Railwa\-s, being director of the former 



f 



^f^^ 




for si.x, and of the latter for two years. I le resigned these 
offices some time after the consolitlatioii of the two roads, 
and gave his atteillion again to the Pei>ple's P.isseilger 
Railwa)', of which he was elected a iliiector on Januai')' 
16, 1886, to succeed Charles J. Hariali. In Lebruar)' 
he was elected a director of the Cermantown Passenger 
Railway Compaii\'. ( )n I )ecember 9, i S(jo. he was elected 
President of the People's I'.isseilger Railway of PhiLulel- 
phia, which position he held till April 13, 1892, when he 
resigned. During his term of pi'esideiic}' he strongly 
ad\'ocated the use of electricit)' as the motive power for 
mo\'ing the cars of the com|)any. His resignation of 
office called forth the following unanimous vote of thanks 
for his faithful seivice fi'om the board of directors; 

" Riiolvtd : That a \'ote of thanks of this boaid I)e 
tendered the retiring ]iresident, Mr. Howard A. .Steven- 
son, tor the earnest, indefatigable, and lo\'al ser\ice he 
has leiidered the Peo[)le's Passenger Railway Companj'. 
He has alwavs been read)' to surreiuk-r e\'er)' person.d 
consideration for the interests of the compaii)'. and his 
identification with it has resulted to its advantage and 
jirospeiit)'. It is with dt'ej) regret we )ield to his deter- 
mination to sever his official relation \.o the conip.ui)", the 
established success of which he has been so instrumental 
in securing." 

In 1887 Mr. Stevenson was made a member of the 
I)oard of dii'ectors of the Fire Association of Philatlel- 
jihia, and in 1889 of the Re.d Instate Title Insui'ance and 
Trust Compaii)', both of which positions he still retains. 
He is a niembi'i' of the (jeorge G. ^leade Post, No. I, 
(ii'and .Xrni)' of the Republic, and of \arious social 
org.mizations, a life member of the .Athletic Club of the 
Schii)'lkill Xa\)', and a member of the Germantown 
Cricket Clul). 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JOHN SARTAIN. 

Till-; subject of tlie present sketch, than whom the 
Unitetl States possesses nn more distinguished engraver, 
is a native of London, in wliich city lie was born in 1808, 
and wheie he was educated in hue engrax-ing, in whicli 
ni.unier he produced nian\- of the ]:)lates in Ottley's 
" ICarly Florentine School," publislicd in 1826. In 1828 
he began to produce work in mezzotinto, and in his later 
work mingled both st_\'les, with the atldition of stipjiling, 
in his ])lates. In adtlition to engraving, he practised oil 
■uid water-Color painting and miniature work on ivory, 
and for some time was emplo_\'ed in making tlesigns for 
the vignette jiictuns (in the notes produced b}' Draper, 
Underwood & Co., the well-known l)ank-note manufac- 
turers. 

In 1830 Mr. Sartain emigrated to America, and settled 
in Philadelphia, which has since that date been his place 
of residence. 1 le was the first to introduce mezzotinto en- 
gra\ing into the United States. ( )n reaching this country 
he went actively to work in the two fields of engraving 
and literature, his first venture in the latter field being the 
editoiship of CaiiiphcU' s Forcii^n Scini- Monthly Mirxazinc, 
in which there first appeared in America Hood's "Sung 
of the Shirt" and " Hridge of Sighs," and an earh' article 
by Agassiz, then hardly known in America. He also 
had an interest in the Fchctic MiisiIidi, and in 1848 pur- 
chased a half-interest in the Union ]\Ic7gtr.z!in\ of New- 
York, thereafter witleh' known as Sartdiii's Mai^orjiiic. 
Of this magazine he became sole editor, and in addition 
to his literary labors on these enterprises fretjuently em- 
ployed his pen on other subjects, chiefly those relating 
to art. 

This literar)' work- was but a relief from his untiring- 



labor in his art, ii-i which he produced ai-i extraordinary 
quantity of work. It is doubtful if in productiveness as 
an engraver he has had any equal. During the period 
when ai-mals were in fashion, there was hardly one of 
them that tlid not owe all its plates to him. To Crahaiit's 
Magazine, during its early years, he contributed a plate 
monthly, as also to the Eclcctii and to his own semi- 
monthly n-iagazine. All this was in addition to his ordi- 
nary engraving and literary work. As an example of his 
rapidit}-, he is said to have produced a portrait-plate of 
Espartero between midnight and claw n, and a portrait of 
Sir Robert Peel, in an emergency, between two and five 
P.M. These were niezzotinto engravings, a method much 
more rapid than that which he has since emplov'ed. 

Mr. .Sartain's w-ork duiing this period was by no means 
confined to book illustrations. He produced then-i, and 
has since continued to produce a succession of large en- 
gravings, several of them as n-iuch as three feet in length. 
Of those we have space to name onl\- a few. The\- in- 
clude " Christ Rejected," after West ; " The Iron-Worker 
and King Solomon," after Schussele ; "John Knox and 
Mary, Queen of Scots," after Leutze ; "The Countv 
PLlection in Missouri," after Binghan-| ; " Hon-iestead of 
Henr\' Clav," after Haniilton ; "The H.ittle of Gett}-s- 
burg," after Rothermel, and others of equal laljor and 
merit. 

Vo\- years past he has been C(.>nnected with various art 
societies, for more th.m twentv V'cars was a director and 
the n-iost active laborer in the Pennsylvania AcAdenn- of 
the I'ine Arts, and for \-ears was Vice-President of the 
School of Desigi-| for Women, having declined the pres- 
idency. In addition, he has received numerous honors 
from foreigi-| societies, and has had niedals, titles of honor, 
and othei- flattering recognitions conferred upon him. 

Mr. Sartain's art w-oi-k has not been confined to en- 
graving. He has also given considerable attention to oil 
painting and to decorative architecture. As an e.xaniple 
of the latter ma\- be nientionetl the lofty monument to 
Washington and Lafavette in Monument Cemetery, Phil- 
adeljjhia, designed b\- him. The much-admired colossal 
medallion pi.irtraits on this monui-iient were cast in bronze 
from his models. During the Centennial Plxposititin in 
Philadelphia, Mr. S<u-tain filled the responsible position 
of Chief of the Pui-eaLi of Art. 

He has three children distinguished in art. Samuel 
Sartain, the oldest, is an engraver of fine abilit}-, antl has 
produced numerous excellent works on steel. William 
Sartain is one of the leading painters of New York, and 
a professor ii-i its principal art schools, pjiiily Sartain 
has done excellent v\(irk in engraving and oil painting, 
and is now at the head of the School of Design for 
Women, in Philadelphia. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



' jj 



ALEXANDRR J. CASSATT. 

Ar,EXA\DEK JoHNSijN Cassatt Was horn ill PittshuI■t,^ 
December 8, 1X^9. His fatiier, wIid was prominent in 
the intlustrial interests of western Pennsylv.mia, and was 
the first Ma_\'or of Aile^lian}- Cit)-, afterwards i-emowd 
to Philadelphia, and estal')h'she<l the bankini;diouse of 
I.Ioyd, Cassatt ^v Coiiipan)-. Mr. C'assatt's echicatioii 
began in l'ittsi)urg', and was continued in 1''.urope, whei"e 
his father s[)ent Some x'ears dm'inL; his _\-outh, particul.irl)' 
in tile Universit)" of HeidelberL;. It was completetl in 
the Rensselaer PolN-technic CoIIcl;!-- at Tro}', New Yor]<, 
from wliicli he tjradnated in 1S59 as a ci\il enL;ineer. 

Tmmediatel\- after his L;raduation he became enL;aL;ed 
u[)on a raili'oad line in (ieort^jia, but resic^ned this position 
before tjie outbrecd< of the war. In 1861 he was ap- 
pointed a rotlman on the Philadelphia Di\ision of the 
I'ennsyKaili.i Railroad, and settled in Philadelphi.i. [•"roiii 
this date his jirogress was rapid. In 1863 he was maile 
assistant en,L;ineer on the railroad connectiiii; the I'eiiii- 
s\dvania with the Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad, 
and in 1 864 was appointed resident enL;ineei" of the Phila- 
delphia and Pa'ie Railroad, with headcjuarters at Reno\o. 
Colonel Scott, who full}- apjireciatcd the ability and ac- 
tivity of the \'onn;.4' en;_;ineer, successively appointed him 
mana<^cr of the Warren and Franklin Railroad (the out- 
let frotii tlie oil rei^ions to the seaboard), assistant L;eneral 
supei'intendent of the Philadelphia and haie Railroail. 
superintendent of motixe power and machinery on the 
same ro.ad, and in Xoxember, 1867, L;;ue him the same 
position on the PennsyK ani.i Railroad. This rapiti |)ro- 
niotion was continued by his appointment in 1870 to the 
post of j^eiieral superintendent of the Peuns\-l\ania Rail- 
road, and ill 1 87 1 to that of [general nianaL,rer of all the 
Pennsylvania Railroad lines. This brought him back .is 
a resident to Pliiladeljihia. 

Mr. Cassatt's work as L^enei-.il m.ui.i^ei' w on foi' him 
greater fame, and established his reputation lor executive 
and administrative abilit}' on a firmer basis than .my suli- 
scqucnt achievement. The great PennsyK ,uiia s)-steiii 
was then being moulded into that homogeneous organiza- 
tion which has since commandetl the admii'atioii of the 
workl, and much of its success is due to the fine judg- 1 
ment, keen perception, and iniusual ])owers as an or- 
ganizer of its general manager. lie instituted reforms in 
the entire sv'stem, re\-olutioiii/-ed the older methods of 
operation, remedied numerous serious defects, and in par- 
ticular ma)' claim credit for inaugin'ating the s])lendi(l 
service which now exists between Phil.ulelphia and New 
York. 

(Jn the death of |. lulgar Thomson, first presitleiit of 
the PennsyK ,uii. I RailroatI Coni[)an\', Mr. Cassatt was. 




Jul)- I, 1874, made third vice-president; and in 1880, on 
the |-etiremeiit of Cciloiiel Scott and the accession to the 
presidenc)' of Mr. Roberts, he became first vice-president. 
At this time tlie road w.is still in the creative stage ; keen 
competitoi's beset it on all sides, anti the task of perfect- 
ing his own plans and triumphing over his rivals fell into 
the haiiils of ,Mr. Cassatt. Wy pluck, perseverance, sa- 
gacity, a wonderful command of resources, and an almost 
prophetic i)re\'ision, he raisetl the roail to the conimaiKl- 
iiig position which it has since maintainetl. 

( )n .September 30, 1 882, he resigned jiis office and re- 
tii'ed to pri\ate lite, his sole object being to attain more 
leisure than was possible while in the Com[)any's service. 
He immediately sailed for luirope. After a season of 
ti-a\el he returned to this countr)-, and has since devoted 
himself to private interests, among the chief of which is 
the bleeding of fine stock. I lis Chesterbrook fu'ni, near 
PerwAii, Chester Count)-, is one of the most celebratetl 
breeding-farms for thoroughbred liorses in the L'nited 
States. I'or st-\eral years he was [iresideiit of the Mon- 
mouth Park Racing Association, but h.is now ntired 
fi'oni that position. In .uldition to this love of fine 
liorses, he is a well-known j)atron of art, anil his [irivate 
galler)- contains numerous fine pictures. 

.Since 1885 Mr. Cassatt lias been prc-sident of the Xew- 
\'ork, Philadelphia, and Norfolk Railroad Conipaii)-, and 
since 1S91 has been president of the commission for the 
building of an Inter-(."ontinental R.iilroad to connect 
Ncirth and .Soutli America. He is also a member of the 
Hoard of X'isitors of West Point, and lias for a number 
of \-ears been one of the directors of the Penns)-Ivania 
Railroad Coni])an)-. 



134 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JOHN 1. ROGERS. 

Coi.ONF.r. J()H\ Ii.xATiL's RocF.Ks, iiioiniiicnt in recent 
years in the lei^al, inilitar}-, and liteiar\- circles of Phila- 
delphia, was born in Philadelphia in 1S44, and after 
f^radiiatinL;" at the Central HiLjh ScIkhi! and in the Law 
Department of the Unixx-rsity of PennsyKania he entered 
the l.iw office of Charles J. In;j;ersoll, and was admitted 
to the bar of his iiatixe cit_\' in 1S65. He was not lonij 
in L;ainin;4 a lucrati\e practice, which was almost exclu- 
si\-el)- confined to the cixil courts, his attention being 
particiilarl)- directed towards real estate and corporation 
law, in which branch of jurisprudence he became an 
acknowletlged e\[)ert. He became also specially skilled 
in the laws pertaining to bLiilding associations, and his 
writings on th.it complex branch of legal [practice are 
looked upon as authorities. The Huildiiig Association 
League of I'hiladelphia, recognizing his ability in this 
direction, chose him iov its chief counsellor, aiul he has 
conducteil all its important litigation, while all recent 
legislation on that important subject owes its initiation 
to him. 

Colonel Rogers's militar\- e.xperience began with his 
membership in the City Troop, that oldest of American 
cavalr\' organizations. He took part in the Pittsburg 
riots' experience of the Tioop. and at a later date, in 
recognition of his literary taste, he was selectetl as the 
poet of the corps, and wrote for it an original ode in 
honor of the Centennial celebration. This pocui hokls 
a conspicuous jilace in the historical memorials of the 
Trooj). 



Politicalh', Colonel Rogers is a Democrat, and on the 
election of Go\ernor Pattison he was appointed to the 
important office of Judge-Ad\-ocate-General of the Na- 
tional Guard of Penns\-l\-ania, his rank on the go\'ernor's 
staff being that of c<ilonel. In this post he did much 
usefid woi'k, organizing the Bureau of Military Justice 
for the first time since its erection, and making a com- 
plete stud)- of American and European niilitar\' law. 
His most important ser\-ice in this position was as a 
member of the militar\- board con\'ened for the recodifi- 
cation of the many .\cts of AssembK' relating ti) military 
affairs. His labors in this direction resulted in the for- 
mation of the new militar}- code which was adopted by 
i\ct of Assembl}- in iSSj, and is one of the clearest antl 
best constructed pieces of legal composition on our 
statute books. In addition he prepared a \'aluable set 
of forms of procedure under the new Act, which are 
unitpie ami peculiar in character antl unsurpassed in 
utility. 

Col(.>neI Rogers is to-da\' ciinsidered the best authority 
on militar\- law in the State, and his writings on the sub- 
ject are highly esteemed in all niilitar_\' circles. As a 
striking instance of his acknowledgetl staniling in this 
field of jurisijrudence, it nia\' be stated that Gcwernor 
Bea\-er, though differing in politics, and exposed to a 
strong partisan pressure, at once re-appointed Colonel 
Rogers to the office which he had held under Go\-emor 
Pattison. This was a marked tribute to his superior 
ability antl an exceptional compliment muler the circum- 
stances. 

Colonel Rogers has held no other office except that 
of member of the Pennsyh-ania House of Representa- 
tives in i86g. He afterwards ran for the State Senate, 
antl matle an unsuccessfid contest for the seat. He was 
one of the founders of the Democratic Committee of 
Thirt\-one that, in 1881, co-operated so effectiveh' with 
the Committee of ( )ne Hundretl in the election of Ma)-or 
King and Recorder of Taxes Hunter. In 1882 he de- 
clinetl to be a candiilate for Register of Wills, and wrote 
a letter designating a Republican, Walter E. Rex, as a 
proper independent nominee for the post. His letter has 
in it the true I'ing of reform. 

Colonel Rogers is an able writer, an elotpient oratoi', 
and an efTecti\-e dramatic reader, and has a thorough 
knowledge of Latin and of modern classics, especially 
histrionic poetr\-. He was one of the founders of the 
Catholic Club of I'hiladelphia, and is a member of the 
Historical Societ)-, the Penn Club, Art Club, Clover 
Club, etc. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



135 



FRHl) M. WAI/roN. 

Fi<i:n Al. W'ai.ion, mic of the voliiiljci' pni;4i'cs^i\-c 
business men nf riiil.ulLlphi.i, was horn at l'"air\'ic-\v, 
Burlin,L;ton Count)', New Jersey, AuL;ust JS, 1S49. 1 lis 
father was of luiL;lish hiith, his mother a n,iti\e of Ncuf- 
chatel, Switzerland. Airs. Walton eanie to America 
wIkii vouul; with hei- p.uents. who settletl at Ri'istol, 
l'enns)-lvania, where they ljoUL;ht and nanietl what is 
known now as ]Mo<>nisdale I'"arm. This was sold by 
them to l),i\itl Landieth, and i^ now pait of the cele- 
brated I..indietli seed fiiiu. They iifterwards made 
their home in l'"air\ iew, Xew Jerse}', and heie Mrs. 
W'.dton, an cnaiest Chi'isti.m wciman of the I'rotestcUlt 
Episcopal fiilh, fiundeil in 1S45 the Holy Trinit)- 
Clun-ch of that place. To this church we sh.ill aLjain 
reter. 

Mr. Walton spent his school-tlays in local colleges at 
liurlington and Be\'erl\-, New Jerse\-, ami at the aL;'e of 
eii^hteen, haxanL^ acquired the elements of a i^ood Iuil(- 
lish education, he came to I'hiladelphia, which cit_\- he 
has since made his home. His business life beyan in the 
establishnunt of DeCourse}-, I,afourcaLle & Co., dealers 
in men's t\n'nishinL; goods. In this establishment he 
remained five \-ears, at the end of which time, h.ixiiiLj 
nccjuired a thoroiiL;h knowledije of the business, he began 
a manufacturing enterprise on his own account. From 
the \arious articles of men's wear he selected that of 
scarfs as a desirable article of manufacture, and has 
since that date been acti\'ely engaged in the production 
of this article, his trade ha\ing greath' ile\eloped tluring 
this period. His business was originall}' located at 60S 
Chestnut Street, and afterwards at 619 Sans(im .Street, 
where it is still situateil, l)nt the establishment h.is much 
expanded and its producti\ eness greatl_\- increased during 
the twenty-two \-ears since it was foimded. 

The total outj^ut at time of starting was fifty dozen of 
scarfs per week. By Ma_\- I, 1S94, it had increased to 
the large aggregate of fi\'e thousand dozen per week, 
and the trade connections of the firm had expanded until 
they reached all sections ot the counti)'. The size of 
the manufacturing plant has recently been doubled, and 
the firm — known as V . M. Walton S: Co. — now occLipies 
four large buildings and employs about two lunulreil antl 
fifty hands. 

The employees are largely \oung hulies, and it is due 
to Mr. Walton to sa\- that, while he is \er\- particular 
about the character and ileportmeiit <if all those in his 
employ, he pa\-s the best wages and takes the best care 
of all whose industry and conduct meet his requirements. 




The pi'otluct of the establishment is confined to goods of 
the best material and finish, no cheap and inferior goods 
being made, and the Walton scarf has won a well- 
deserved I'eputation with all lnnises that deal in this clas.s 
of goods. 

Mr. Walton is an active, energetic, and careful busi- 
ness man, giving close and unremitting attention to the 
(letails of his Inisiness interests. Personal!)- he is genial 
and social in disposition, and enjo)'s life with warm zest. 
The love of horses is his particular inclination, and the 
dri\'ing of thoroughlired roadsters his chief diversion 
from business cares. His father died while he was young, 
and he, being the youngest member of the family, de- 
\otcd himself with filial affection to his mothei'"s hajipi- 
ness, desisting from marri.ige at her express wish. His 
mother dietl in 1S92. Since that date, as a testimony of 
respect for her menior)', and as a useful gift to his nati\'C 
town, he has had the church which she founded ncarl)- 
fifty years before completeh' and handsomely rebuilt. 
As it now stands, it is a sightl)- stone structure, of the old 
luiglish Ciothic st)-le of architecture, and has a capacit)' 
for an audience of about four hundretl and fift\- people. 
Mr. Walton contributes liberalK' to its support, and keeps 
a supervision over it, pa)'ing it frecpient visits. 

Politicall)- he is a Republican, and has long been a 
member of the Union League. He also belongs to the 
Manuficturers' Club and other associations, and for six 
years was an active member of Company D, First Regi- 
ment of I'ennsv'lvania Volunteers. He now belongs to 
the Old Guard of the retiiment. 



1^,6 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




MOSHS \'HAI.E. 

MosKS Veale was born in liridycton, New Jerse}-, No- 
\cmbor 9, 1832, the son of Moses \'eale and Elizabeth 
Siiarpe. His father's L;iMn(lf.itlKr, Xeheniiali Veale, settled 
near Bridgeton in the year 1700, and Walter \'eale was 
rector of Idyslii;!!, North iJexon, luighuul, 1691. Ilis 
mother's faniil)-, the Shaipes, settletl at Salem, New jersey, 
1675, then ealletl the District of Fairfax, and a great-uncle 
of his mother was appointed judge of the district by George 
I. His mother's father was in the charge at Lund)''s Lane 
inider (jeneral Scott as a non-commissioned officer, anil 
died at Sackett's 1 larbor. He married the daughter of 
William McDonald and Elizabeth Wynne. Her great- 
grandfather McDonald was one of the h'ree Quakers of 
the Revolution, anti her mother's great-grandfather was 
Thomas W\-nne, who came with William Penn as surgeon. 

Major Veale recei\ed an education in the Quaker Semi- 
nary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was for three }-ears 
instructor in the same, after which he read law and was 
admitted to the comts of Philadelphia and tlie Supreme 
Court of Pennsyhania. Soon after the breaking out of 
the war he was mustered into the service of the United 
States as second lieutenant. Company F, One Hundred 
and Ninth Penns\-l\-ania, Xo\ember 8, 1861. During the 
spring and summer of 1862 he served \\\>o\\ the staff of 
General C. C. Augur as assistant pro\ost-marshal, and 
later upon the staff of General John W. Geary as assistant 
commissary of musters and aide-de-camp, with the sev- 
eral ranks of lieutenant, captain, and major. He was com- 
missioned captain, April 4, 1863; major. May 4, 1864; 
and has the record of having mustered the first \eteran 
volunteer regiment ever sworn into the service of the 
United States, the Twenty-ninth Penn.s^-lvania. 

Major Veale was discharged from the ser\ice by special 
order of the War Department, June 8, 1865, and has a 



commission dated January 16, 1865, as brevet colonel for 
gallant and meritorious services at the battles of Cedar 
Moimtain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wau- 
hatchie, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Ringgold, 
Resaca, New Hope Church, Pine Knob, siege of Savan- 
nah, anil Sherman's campaign throughout the Carolinas. 

In an extract written In- General John W. Geary he 
speaks of him in the following terms : " Major Veale was 
bravest of the bra\-e." General John H. Kane says, " He 
sllowed much gallantr_\- in action." And the f()llo\\ing 
letter, written b}- that splendid soldier, fighting Joe 
Hooker, sa\'s, " It gives me great pleasure to state, for the 
information of all conceined. that I knew Major Veale 
well during the late war, and that I regard his services on 
the staff of General Gears' as being the most able and 
distinguished of all his officers, among A\hom were many 
of brilliant reputations and prominent standing." 

Major Veale was slighth' wounded in the arm and 
groin at the battle of Cedar Mountain, August 9, 1862, 
was taken i)risoner, anil held as a hostage in Libby 
Prison, under retaliator}' orders of Jefferson Da\ is, until 
the last of September, 1S62, when he was exchanged, 
and immediatel}' retiuned to his command. 

He was wounded in the action at Wauhatcliie by a 
ball passing through his right shoulder. At Kenesaw 
Mountain he was shot through the right lung, the ball 
passing enliiely through his bodv ; his horse was shot 
from under him and mortalh' wounded at the same time. 
Upon the personal recommendation and request of General 
W'. II. .Slocum, commander of the Arm_\- of Georgia, the 
Secretar}' of War issued a medal of honor, with the follow- 
ing inscriijtion : '"The Congress' to Major Moses Veale, 
109th Pennsyhania X'eteran \'olunteers, for gallantrj- in 
action at Wauhatcliie, Tennessee, October 28, 1863." 

After the war. Major \'eale was commissioned Lhiited 
States Attorne}' for the Territor\- of Montana; served as 
Clerk of Indian Affairs, and on the Sth of January, 1868, 
was appointed adjutant-general, with the rank of brigadier, 
for the same territory. After returning to Philadelphia, in 
the fall of 1876, he was nominated b}' the Democratic 
party for State Senator in the P'iftli Senatorial District ; 
was nominated for Recorder of Deeds for the city of 
Philadelphia in I 88 1, and ran eight thousand ahead of the 
candidate on the ticket with him for State Treasurer. 

On the 15th of April, 18S4, he was appointed Health- 
Officer of Philadelphia by Go\ernor Pattison. Since tliat 
time he has resumed the practice of law. December 14, 
1 89 1, he was again appointed Health-Officer of the city of 
Philadelphia by Governor Pattison, and now occupies the 
office. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Repub- 
lic and of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, Presi- 
dent of the State Quarantine Board, First Vice-President 
of the -State Sanitary Association, anil \'ice-Presiilent of the 
Penns\-lvania Societ\' for the Pre\'ention of Tuberculosis. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



^?>7 



HENRY W. GRAY. 



Henry W. Gkav was born 



i8;o, at Kiilirata, 



Lancaster Count}-, Pennsylvania. lie was educated at 
York, Pennsylvania, and on comin;^ of at;e engaged in 
the iron ami mining business. At the age of twent\'-five 
he married a daughter of J. H. Schomacker, the manu- j 
facturer of the piano bearing his name; and in 1S57 he ! 
came to Philadelphia, and assumed the m.inagenient of 
the business of his father-in-law, for which he was emi- 
nentl}- fitted. He is the in\-entor of the electro-gold 
piano string, and other important improvements in the 
[iiano, which gave to the Schomacker instruments such 
high reputation. In 1864, the stock company calkxl the 
" Schomacker Piano-Forte Manufecturing Compan_\-" w as 
formed mider the act of Legislatiu'e, and he became its 
jircsident and business manager. The business was 
thereb}' largeh" extended, and under his sole management 
has become one of the most important and successful 
enterprises of its kind in the United States. He entered 
into politics at an earl\- age, and has held man}' positions 
of trust and honor, both in the municipal and State 
governments. He was a member of the gubernatoi'ial 
convention that nominated Andrew G. Curtin, and was 
also active in securing the same honor for General Jnhn 
\V. Gear)-, wlici uas his warm j^ersonal friend. He was 
closel}- connected with the latter's administration as con- 
fidential adviser. 

At the outbreak of the War of the Rebellion, he was 
appointed an aide on the Governor's staff, and was after- 
wards transferred to General Haupt's command. While 
a member of City Council, he was appointed chairman of 
the finance committee, and was credited w-ith raising more 
funds for war purposes than an\- man who had preceded 
him in that position. In 187 1 he received the Republican 
nomination for State Senator in tlie P'ourth District, his 
op[)onent being Colonel A. K. McClure. After an ex- 
citing contest he was given the certificate of election, and 
took his seat in the State Senate. Then cnmmenced the 




famous Gra\--McClure contest. The crowning event of 
his life, however, was his strong and successful advocacy 
of the location of the Public Buildings at Broad and 
Market -Streets. The wisdom of his course has since be- 
come apparent, and a large majority of the popular \-ote 
of tlie city endorsed the acts of himself and his co- 
laborers. He Has appointed a member of the commis- 
sion to superintend the erection of these buildings. He 
was one of the first citizens to aid in organizing the 
Union League of Philadelphia, and is now one of its 
oldest members. During his entire political career he 
has been unflinching in the advocacy of his views, and 
has thereby made many bitter enemies as well as many 
warm friends ; but, possessing as he does rare business 
and social qualities, the latter far outnumber the former. 
He is still in the jirime of life, enjo\-ing his well-earned 
fortune in his beautiful Germantown home, and is one 
of the most active and energetic of Philadelpliia mer- 
chants. 



18 



I3« 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JOSEPH I.. CAVHN. 

In the [)i-cscnt warm interest that is beini;' shuwn in 
numici[xil refurni.aml particuhu'h' in thecflort to divorce 
city affairs from part\' politics and conduct tliem on busi- 
ness instead of pohtical princijiles, the name of Joseph 
Lewis Caven becomes important as the first acti\-e ad\-o- 
cate in tlie Philadelphia City Council of this desirable 
principle. Mr. Caven was born in Abington Township, 
Montgomer\- County, Penns\-l\-ania, AuL;ust 14, 1^35- 
His father remox'ed to Philadelphia when the Ixiy was 
three years old, and he was educated in the public 
schools of this city, lea\ini;- the Central Hiijh Sciiool in 
185 I to study conveyancing under A. B. Car\-er & Co. 
He afterwards studied law in the offices of Charles Y.. 
Lex and Charles M. Wagner, antl was admitted to the 
bar in .April, 1 86 1, his examination lieing held on the 
day that P'ort Sumter was fired upon. 

Mr. Caven's first political position was as school di- 
rector in the Fifteenth Ward. He ser\ed in this position 
for three years, during jjart of the time as president of 
the Board. In 1872 he was nominated by the Repub- 
lican party for the Conmion Council. He hatl by this 
time become so poiiular in the ward that the nomi- 
nation was concurred in lj\- the Democrats and by a 
pioneer reform association. This general endorsement 
of their candidate did not please the political magnates, 
and they tried, by a maniinilation of the \c)te, to discard 
Mr. Caven from the part\' ticket. Their action roused a 
storm of protest in the ward. The candidate, who had 
so far been lukewarm, aroused to activity, defeated the 
efforts to remo\e his name from the ticket, and was 
elected b\- a marketl majority. 

Mr. Ca\-en was in no sense under obligation to the 



partj' leaders, and he acted in the Common Council with 
an independence that was little to their liking. His work- 
began with an impeachment of Councilman Siner, who 
had been convicted of keeping a gambling house, and 
who found it wise to resign. Then he turned his atten- 
tion to the Highway Department, insisted that all con- 
tracts should be gi\en to the lowest bidder, and carried 
this nieasiiie, which since then has saved the city no 
sniidl simi of mone_\-. The new member was irrepres- 
sible. I'ear or f.unrilism had no influence upon him. 
Reform in the cit\' .idministration was his settled purpose, 
and he worked for it with unde\-iating energy. In the 
spring of 1874 the part)' refused to nominate him, but 
he acceptetl an independent nomination, was endorsed 
b)' the Democr.its, ,uk1 again returned to Council. 

His record in this term of Council was an e\"enttul 
one. A strong effort was made, assisted by .\. Wilson 
Hensze\% president of the Chamber, to nominate John 
Bardsle)-, chairm.m of the P'inance Committee, for City 
Treasiu'er. After a sharp contest, Henszey was de- 
posed from the presidenc}-, Ca\en elected to this 
office, and Bardsley lost his chairmanship, and with 
it his chance of a nomination as Treasurer. This 
movement brought Mr. Ca\-en into such prominence 
that in i '^'' he received a citizens' independent nomi- 
nation fir nia\or. He was defeated b_\- William S. 
Stokely, the Republican candidate, b\- the aid, as 
was shown in an investigation b\' a committee of the 
Reform Club, of ballot-box intrigue. 

Mr. Ca\en continued to be elected to Common Council, 
and was its president for fi\e successive terms, during 
which, through his inlluence, the reformers became dom- 
inant, and carried measures of legislation that made 
marked changes in the management of city affairs. His 
fixed purpose was, as lie openh" exj^ressed himself, " that 
tile go\ernment of the cit\- of Pliiladelphia should be 
reuKned from the inlluence of party politics," and he 
worked with artlor antl earnestness for this end. In 
1881, to the great regret of his associates, he \-oluntarily 
retired from public life. A public dinner was tendered 
him, and a handsome gold medal presented in recogni- 
tion of his eminent services. In 1SS3, he was appointed 
by the Board of Judges of Philadelphia County a member 
of the Board of Directors of City Trusts (which position 
he had formerh' held b\- \irtue of his office as president 
of Common Council). He is now vice-president of that 
body, and has assisted, by his large experience, in the 
management of the Girard Plstate and College. After 
his retirement from Councils he was elected president 
of the United Firemen's Insurance Company, and more 
recently has been made president of the Real Estate 
Title Insurance and Trust Company, the first corpora- 
tion of the kind organized in America. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



139 



CHAKl.ES H. WARBURTON. 

Ciiaiu.es Edwakii W'AkBL'KTdX was born in Lcamiiii^- 
ton, tlic famous resort in the English Midlands, on March 
2, i<S36. His parents removed to this country when he 
was onl\' two \xars of age, and made their permanent 
hiime ill Philadelphia, where his father, the late John 
W'arburton, became a successful merchant. The son wa.s 
educatetl in the public schools, and in early life acquired, 
by a thorough ami practical business training, the un- 
flagging intlustry, persistence of purpose, alertness of 
perce[iti(in, and knowledge of men which qualified him 
so abundantly for the exacting calling to which nearl\- ! 
the whole of his acti\e life has been de\"oted. 

Combining his resources with those of his brother-in- 
law, J. ]?,u-cla}- Harding, he establishetl FIil Evening Tele- 
grapli in the beginning of 1S64, the first number of the 
new daily being issued on Jamiar_\- 4 of that \-ear from 
its present publication office. No. loS .South Third Street. 
Mr. W'arburton's practical business training was supple- 
mented b}' the journalistic experience and brilliant quali- 
ties of Mr. Harding. The latter was the son of Jesper 
Harding, one of the most f.imous of the old school of 
newspaper men, who hatl been for many \-ears the pro- 
prietor and publisher of the Pcinisy'i'ania Enquirer. He 
had inherited his father's taste for journalistic work, and 
had ser\ed under him a full apprenticeship in the editorial 
department. The inaugurators of the new undertaking 
thus possessed between them tlie knowledge and experi- 
ence which were essential to its success. There was, also, 
a fairl\- open fieUl for their enterprise, as there was at 
that time but one e\ening journal published in the cit}-. 
although there was then, as now. an abumlance of morn- 
ing newspapers. The war fir the preservation of the 
Union was at that period in its most critical stage, and 
a public eager for tidings from the scene of conflict 
extended a hearty welcome to the new evening paper 
when it demonstrated, as it dii.1 from the start, that it 
was to be conducted on the most intelligent and ener- 
getic basis. 

The death of Mr. Harding in October, 1865, less 
than two years after the paper \\,is established, threw 
the editorial, as well as the business, management of llic 
Evening Telegraph into Mr. Warburton's hands, and he 
immediately demonstrated his capacity for the ailditional 
task. Although he has ne\-er been an editorial writer in 
the strict and technical sense, he has been through the 
succeeding year.s the editor-in-chief of The Evening Tele- 
graph in all that the phrase implies ; dictating its jjolicy 
from day to tla\' on all questions of importance, sug- 
gesting topics for discussion, outlining arguments .and 
marshalling points in their support, and meanwhile keep- 



,^ 



^^ 




ing a watchful ej-e on the news columns, and deciding 
when and how the service should be extended and im- 
])ro\ed. He is now (iiS94) the dean of I'hil.idelphia jour- 
nalism, being the oldest newspaper proprietor and editor, 
in point of continuous service, in the cit\'. 

Mr. W'arburton has always been a Republican in poli- 
tics, but has never held or sought office. In the columns 
oi The Evening Telegraph he has for nearK' a third of a 
centur\- advocated the principles of Republicanism as 
interpreted from a broad, liberal, and independent stand- 
point. suii[)orting such measures and candidates, and such 
alone, as would, from its point of view, promote the best 
interests of the countrv at large, as well as of the part)-. 
This independent spirit has fret]uentl\- brought him and 
his paper into conflict with partisan leaders in the city, 
State, and nation. In following up this j^olic}-. The Evening 
Telegraph opposed the impeachment of President John- 
son, the reckless operations of the " carpet-baggers" in 
the South during the Reconstruction perioti, a third term 
for General Grant, the nonunation and election of James 
G. Blaine, the extreme pro\isions of the McKinle\- Tariff 
act, and all other radical measures which it regarded as 
being, from its independent staml-point, antagonistic to 
genuine Republicanism. In -State politics it has ahva\'s 
been arra\'ed against the " bosses." especially in tile Inde- 
pendent Republican revolt of 1882. when it was the most 
influential Republican journal in the State that supported 
that movement. 

Mr. W'arburton is ;i w idower. w ith a son ,uid a daughter. 
The former, Mr. Barclay H. W'arburton. has since the 
beginning of 1894 been associated with his father as pub- 
lisher of The Evening Telegraph. 



140 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




GENERAL HENRY H. BINGHAM. 

Henkv \\. BlMiHAM was born in Philadelphia in 1841, 
his father being James Bingham, of the forwarding house 
of 15ingham & Dock, well-known merchants of that 
period. He was educated at Jelferson College, Canons- 
burg, Pennsylvania, where he studied law, and from which 
he graduated with high honors in 1862. He received 
the decree of Master of Arts from this college a few 
years afterwards. At the time of his graduation the 
countiy was in the midst of the Civil War, and a com- 
pany of infantr}- was being enrolled in and around the 
college. In this company Air. Bingham was oftered, and 
accc])ted, the position of first lieutenant. In the next 
month, September, 1862, he was chosen captain, and his 
company was enrolled in the One Hundred and P'ortieth 
Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. He continued to 
.serve with the company until April, 1863, wlien he was 
relieved from duty and appointed Judge-Advocate of the 
First Division, Second Army Corps, then at Falmouth, 
Virginia. On June 1 1 he was appointetl Judge-Advocate 
of the corps. 

His service in this field of duty was rewarded in .Sep- 
tember, 1864, with the rank of major, at the request of 
General Hancock, to whose staff he was attached. Onl)' 
twent)'-two commissions in all were conferred diu'ing the 
war on officers in that department. The reasons assigned 
for the rank thus given him were highly creditable. He 
was promoted " for good conduct and conspicuous gal- 
lantry, especially at the Wilderness, May 6, 1864, where 
he collected a considerable body of stragglers and led 
them against the enemy with marketl bra\-er)- ; and at 
Spottsylvania, May 12, where he \'oluntarily took part 
with his regiment in the assault, and w'as wounded. He 
was also wounded at Gettysburg." These remarks indi- 
cate that the young officer did not let his services as 



Judge- Ath'ocate interfere with his duties in the field, but 
that he took gallant part in the several great battles fought 
by the Army of the Potomac. 

In his staff position he displayed such skill and abilit\- 
as to bring him new steps of promotion, and in April, 
1865, he received the rank of brevet brigadier-general 
and Judge-Advocate of the Middle Military Department, 
which embraced the .States of Pennsylvania, Maryland, 
Virginia, West Virginia, and Delaware. His honorable 
discharge from the service was received in July, 1866. 
During his career as a soldier. General Bingham had taken 
part in his full share of battles, was wounded at Gett\-s- 
burg, Spotts\-l\-ania,and I-'armville, and once fell into the 
hands of the enemy as prisoner, but had the good fortune 
to make his escape. 

After his retirement from the arm)-, he returned to his 
nati\e cit\', where, in November, 1866, he recei\-ed the 
appointment of Chief Clerk in the Philadelphia Post- 
Office, and in March of the following year was made 
Postmaster. In 1869 President Grant reappointed him 
to this office, at the request of both of the Senators from 
Penns\-l\ania and the united congressional delegation 
from Philadelphia. From 1869 to 1872 he served as 
treasurer of the Republican State Central Committee, 
and in 1872 was made delegate-at-large from Pennsyl- 
vania to the National Republican Convention held at 
Philatlelphia, and was chosen as permanent secretar\- of 
that body. On December i, 1872, he resigned the Post- 
mastership of Philadelphia to take the office of Clerk of 
the Courts of Oyer and Terminer and Quarter Sessions 
of the County of Philadelphia, to which he had been 
elected in October of that year. 

General Bingham's service in the National Republic, ui 
Conxention in 1872 was followed by a succession of 
similar ser\ices to the part}-, he being sent as delegate 
from the First Congressional District of Pennsylvania to 
the convention at Cincinnati in 1876, to those at Chicago 
in 1884 and 1888, and to that at Minneapolis in 1892. 
In the year 1878 he became the Republican nominee on 
the congressional ticket for the First District of Pennsyl- 
vania, and was elected to the Forty-sixth Congress. 
Since that date he has continued to represent Philadel- 
phia in the House, having been successively re-elected. 
In 1892 he received 22,908 votes as Republican candidate 
for his district against 13,693 for Edwin G. Flanagan, the 
Democratic nominee. As a member of Congress, Gen- 
eral Bingham has represented the cit\- acceptabl}-, having 
served on important committees, and shown himself an 
able and skilled advocate of the interests of his constitu- 
ents and the principles of his party on the floor of the 
House. The various public works gained by the cit\- in 
recent years, such as the new Post-Ofifice, the removal of 
the islands in the Delaware, the new Mint, etc., have 
owed much to his sujjport and earnest advocacy. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



141 



CHARLHS HMORY SMITH. 

Ciiaki.es IvMOKV Smith, the popular editor nf Ilic 
Press, is of Connecticut oriL^in, haxiuL; been h(irn at 
Mansfield, in that State, in 1842. His parents mo\ed to 
Albany in 1849, and he recei\-ed his education in the 
public schools of that city, and at L'nion CullcLje, fioni 
which he graduated in 1861. Durinsj; the tun succeed- 
in<j )'ears he perfornieil \aluable services on the stalf of 
General Rathbone, who hail char!4"e of the depots in 
which Were organized regiments nf xnlunteer soldiers. 
Part I if this time he ser\ed as assistant adjutant-general. 
From I S63 to 1865 he was a teacher in the Alban\- 
Academ_\', and in the l.itter year became etlitur i)t the 
Albany Express. 

His journalistic work hatl really commenceil at the 
age of si.\teeii, when he began writing for the AlluDiy 
Evening Transcript, to which paper, fir si.\ months, he 
furnished its daily leading editnrial articles, lie cun- 
tinucd to culti\-ate at ever\- oi)pi irtiinit\- his precocious 
powers in this directinn, antl fin.dl_\- gainei.l a fidl op[)or- 
tunit\- f)r their development in the editorship of the 
Express. While thus engaged, he ser\-ed, in 1868, as 
pri\-ate secretar\- of Governor I^'enton. In i87(;)hei>ur- 
chased an interest in the Albany Evening Jonrnal, and 
became joint-editor of tliat paper with the well-known 
George Dawson. ( )n the death of the latter, in 1874, 
Mr. Smith became editor-in-chief of the Journal. 

During his connection with this paper he served in 
several public and political positions. He was elected a 
trustee of L'nion College, and subsequently was nomi- 
nated and elected by tlie New York Legislature regent 
of the Universit}' of New York. In addition, his de- 
served reputation as a fluent public speaker brought him 
constantly into demand as an orator for militar\-, press, 
educational, and other associations. His political career 
consisted principal!)- in his frequent election as a delegate 
to Republican State conventions, in which he scr\ed 
on many successi\-e annual occasions, being repeatedh- 
chosen chairman of the Committee on Resolutions. His 
work in this direction was important, he playing a promi- 
nent part in the formation of the part}- platform of the 
Republicans of the State of New Y'ork. 

In 1876 he was sent as a delegate to the Republican 
National Convention at Cincinnati, and was appointed a 
member of the Committee on Resolutions, as the repre- 
sentatise from New York on the committee. In drafting 
the resolutions for the presidential campaign of that year 
he took a j^rominent part, and the platform, as finally 
adopted, embraced the measures which he hatl already 
embodied in the party platform of New Y'ork. In the 
New Y'ork .State convention of 1880 he was chosen tem- 
porarj- president, and was subsequently elected perma- 
nent president of that bod\-. 




]\Ir. Smith's residence in Philadelphia began in 1880, 
in Alarch of which \-ear he accepted and assumed the 
j3osition of editor-in-chief of The Press, then one of the 
n-iost prominent Republican journals of the .State. He 
soon after pin"chased an interest in this jiaper, and b_\- his 
energ)- and \igorous editorial power restored it to the 
position which it had in a measure lost, — that of the lead- 
ing Republican p.iper of Pennsyl\-ania, the chief expo- 
nent of Republican \iew s in the Ke\-stone .State. 

In the Garfield election campaign of 1 880, Mr. .Smith's 
fine jjowers as a political orator and debater were called 
activel}' intii i>la}-, he stumj)ing the States of Pennsyl- 
\-ania and New Jersey in fa\-or of the Republican candi- 
date, and aiding essentiall\- in the campaign of education, 
b\- the aid of which Garfield was carried triiniiphantl}- 
into the presidential chair, — tliat chair which was so 
soon to be made vacant again by the hand of the as- 
sassin. 

In the subsequent presidential campaigns, Mr. Smith 
continued to do efficient service for his part}- with pen 
and \-oice, anil his useful labors were suitabl}- rewariled 
in his appointment b}- President Harrison, in Februar}-, 
1890, to the highly honorable and important diplomatic 
position of United States Minister to Russia. In this 
high post he representeil his ciumtr}- at St. Petersburg 
for two }-ears with much credit, returning to America in 
1892. It may be said, in conclusion, that Mr. .Smith is 
an able representati\e of the art of political journalism, 
his wide knowledge of men and public aflairs enabling 
him to present clear and cogent statements of the drift of 
public events. As a man he is affalile and genial, as a 
speaker he is attractive and sympathetic : he is a close 
and logical speaker, a skilful and adroit politician, and 
has an exceptional command of reason and rhetoric both 
in speech and with pen. 



142 



MAKERS OF rHILADELPHIA. 




GENERAL HDWAKI) B. GRUBB. 

]'',i)\\AKi) lii^KD Grliu;, a [ironiincnt soldier in the 
recent war, was boi'n in HurlinL^ton, New Jersey, No- 
vember \\, 1841. He is (lesceiuleil from ilistins^uished 
Re\'oliitionar)' ancestry, his L;reat-L;randiathei', Colonel 
Peter Gruhb, having conunanded a Pennsylvania regi- 
ment in ("leiieral Washington's ,irmy. ant! niarrietl Mar\' 
Sliippen ISind, daughter of Colonel J.mies Burtl, one (jf 
Washington's staff. General Grubb's father was an ex- 
tensive miner of iron ores and manufacturer cif pig-irem 
in Pennsylvania. The son stutlied in the schools of his 
nati\e cit\' ami in l^ui'lingtoii College, from which he 
graduated with first honors in I S60. Shortly afterwards 
the Ci\ il War broke out, and lie, though not _\-et twenty 
}-ears old, entered the ser\'ice as second lieuten.uit in the 
Third Regiment of New Jersey, which was sent to 
Washington and participatetl in the first battle of Bull 
Run. The \'oung officer was soon after promoted to a 
fn-st lieuteiianc)-, and the brigade to which his regiment 
was attached became part of McClellan's arm\- before 
Richmond, where it saw se\'ere ser\ice, as afterwards at 
the second battle of \\\\\\ Run. After passing through 
sharp work at the battle of .South Mountain, Maryland, 
Lieutenant Gruljb was promoted major of the Twenty- 
third New Jeisc)-, and on December n6, 1S62, was made 
lieutenant-colonel of the same regiment for gallant con- 
duct at the battle of Frotlericksburg. At Chancellors- 
\'ilk; he Ijeh.'ued with equal gallantr)-, it being said that, 
" Alwa_\-s at the head of his regiment, mounted until his 
horse was shot from under him, then on foot, still ani- 
mating the men aiul leading them on, himself the firthest 
in the front and last to lea\c the field, seeming to bear a 
charmed life, he mo\'ed from jioint to point calm and cool, 
the men ner\ed to daring by his example, until further 
exertion no longer a\ailed." At a later date, when the 



men umler his command were almost in a state cjf mutiny 
at being ordered to cross the Rappahannock and face the 
enemy after their term of ser\'ice had expired. Colonel 
Grubb intluced them, b_\- a forcible address, to obey or- 
ders. They crossed the ri\er and threw up a breastwork, 
on which the enemy opened fire, but without inflicting 
loss. While the regiment lay at Beverly, New Jersey, 
befoic l)eing fin.dh' mustered out, the invasion of Penn- 
s}-l\-ania b\- Lee took place. Colonel Grubb asked for 
\-oluntecr.s to defend a sister State, and the whole force 
at once \-olunteeied. They were taken to 1 l.irrisburg, 
w here they threw up rifle-pits tor the defence of that city. 

hi 1X64 Colonel Grubb leil the Thirty-seventh Regi- 
ment, which he had raiseil, to General Grant's lines 
before Petersljurg, where he did dut)' with his men in 
the trenches on the extreme fi'ont. On March 4, 1865, 
he was made Brevet l^rigadier-General of Volunteers for 
meritorious ser\ice before Petersburg. After the close 
of the war, he residetl until about 1873 in l^urlington, 
where he became a member of Common Council, and 
ser\ed as its pi'csident foi" two }'ears. He was also a 
trustee of St. ALu'y's Hall and of l^urlington College. 

While not, strictl}- speaking, a Philadelphian, General 
Grubb's ancestr_\' were, and his business and social rela- 
tions ha\e been so closely connected with that city that 
he is usuall)' looked upon as one of its citizens. In 1867, 
on the tle.ith of iiis fither, the large iron interests C)f the 
latter fell under his control. Among these were the 
well-known Cornwall oie-ljanks of Lancaster County, 
which had long been in the fmiil_\-, the title to them 
ha\ing been received direct from William I'eini. bi 1878 
he built at L)-nchburg, Virginia, the first coke pig-iron 
furnace in that State, and opened and operated iron mines 
along the fames River. He is President of the Lvnch- 
bnrg lion Company. General Grubb has travelled ex- 
teiisi\ely through the luistern hemisphere, his wife hav- 
ing been the first white woman to pass through the entire 
length of the .Suez Canal. On his return to the United 
.States, he luiblished in Lippii/cott's Jft!i;-cr::.///i- an account 
of his tra\els, which attracteil much attention and was 
widel\- copietl. Ik' was at this time elected a member of 
the Aeadeni)- of Natur.d .Sciences of Philadelphia. He 
is also a member of the Philadelphia Club, the Clover 
Club, the Historical Society of Philadelphia, the Union 
I Club of New- York, and the New York Yacht Club, and 
I has taken two of the Bennett prize cups. In addition, 
he belongs to the Societ_\- of the Cincinnati, the Loyal 
Legion, and the Grand Army of the Republic, being 
department commander of the latter organization for the 
State of New Jersey. He is also captain of the Phila- 
delphia City Troop, an organization w hich dates back to 
the Revolution. In October, 18S1, he commanded the 
New Jerse_\- battalion in the centennial ceremonies at 
Yorktown, \'irginia. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



143 



RUSSKLL SMITH. 

Russell Smiiii was hcim in rilasL;in\', Scdtl.iml, in 
1S12, antl caiiK- tn this cimntr)- with his paixnts wiun 
sc\'cn \'cais of aLJc. In liis b<i\'h<iiid ila\s lu; was al- 
llictctl with a painful ncuralLjic affcctidii of his left tem- 
ple, so scAcre as to disaljlc liim for a part cif each week, 
and which cuntiniied to tnailjlc hini until he \\,is se\ent_\'- 
fi\e _\ears cikl. I lis p.irents tearetl that he would never 
he able to earn a li\in;4 in an}' business tleniandini;' con- 
stant attendance, )'et few men ha\ e done more acti\e ,nid 
continuous work'. He hail e,ni_\' shown some talent fir 
drawini;, and was placed with a e.ipable artist, under 
whom he made such satislactory progress that aftei' a 
few }'ears he was able to make a successfid beginnini^^ as 
a portrait painter. 

His work as a painter of theatrical scener}-, in which 
line of art work he became so well known, bcLjan with 
the painting;' of some scenery lor a pri\ate Thespian 
compan\\ This was so well performed as to attract the 
attention of the eminent traL;edian, I'Alwin k'orrest, who, 
in 1833, was about to ojien a new theatre in Pittslnu'L; for 
the production of his phiys of " Metaniora" and "The 
Gladiator," Scencr\- was needed, and there beint; no 
regular scene-painter to be liad, Mr. .Smith was urged by 
the actor and Mr. Wcmx'ss, his manager, to undertake 
the work. With much hesitation the modest }-oung 
painter consented, and performed the task in such a man- 
ner as to give entire satisfaction to liis employers. Mr. 
Wemyss, who about that time leased the Walnut .Street 
Theatre, Philadelphia, for a number of \-ears, was so well 
pleased with the work of the new scene artist that he 
engaged Mr. Smith to redecor.ate this theatie, and paint 
for it new scenei\' and a curtain. 

For the ensuing fi\e \'ears Mr. .Smith <.le\'otetl himself 
closely to this brancii of art, and with much success. 
At tlie eni.1 of that time he niari'ied, ga\'e up theatrical 
work, and built himself a house near Branchtown, now 
the Twenty-second Ward of Philadelphia, where for ten 
years he occujjied himself in painting landscapes, together 
with producing gex)logical illustrations for \-aiious emi- 
nent professors. At the end of tliat time he went with 
his family to P',ur(.)pe, and in that country he sjient two 
}-ears in stud\' and in the sketching of scenery. After 
his return to America he painted many landscapes for 
prominent people, among whom Mr. Horace ]5inney was 
a liberal patron. 

During these many years Mr. Smitli had done no work 
in his old line of scene painting; but when, in 1856, the 
Academy of Music was being built, his earl\- trimiiphs as 




a scenic artist were rememberetl, and he w,ls earnestK' 
requested to undertake the painting of the scener)' and 
drop-curtain for this temple of nnisic. lie consented 
at length, an<l atlded so greatly to his leputation by 
the admirable character of his work, that duiijig the 
succeeding thirty \'ears he was engaged at intervals to 
paint ciutains for theatres in the principal cities. He 
continued also to fuiaiish what new scener)- the Acatlemy 
recjuircd. 

He tlid not permit this work, liowe\-er, to prevent his 
prosecuting the field of highei' art, Init continued, at his 
home on PLdge Hill, to produce landscape paintings, ex- 
amples of which were annually exhibited at the Academy 
of I'ine Arts. Nor were his artistic labors restricted to 
these two fields. He has fijr many _\-ears been engaged, 
and continues to the present \-car with unabated enthu- 
siasm, in making stutlies, painted from nature in colors, 
wherex'cr fine subjects could be found. He has in his 
possession a large number of these studies, none of them 
having even been offered for sale. The\' have supplied 
him with constant material f >r his othei' works, which 
ha\e always been original in design. 

Mr. Smith is by nature .i m(.)dest ami retiring man, 
preferring a country life. In consec|uence, he is j^er- 
sonall}- little kii'iwn, although his work has been clone 
principall)- for Philadelphia, and has attracted much at- 
tention and atlmiration. Though now eight\--two \-ears 
of age, he zealously continues his life work, and his love 
of and devotion to art labors are likely to continue to 
the close of his life. 



144 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




RICHARD VAUX. 

The name ^■•'i \'aux has Ihiil; been prominent in the 
nuinicipal histm-y nf the cit\- of Pliihulelphia. Tiie 
I Inn. Ivoberts \'aux was one of the foremost eitizens 
of this communit)- in the early part of the century, and 
served in man_\' important positions, while he was one of 
the originators of the public school s\'stem and the 
Pennsylvania system of separate imj^risonment of con- 
victs. Shorth' before his death, in 1836, he became a 
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. His son Rich- 
ard was born in Philadelphia, December 19, 1816. He, 
with his brothel's, w as etlucated at home by private tutors, 
and after conipleting his studies was placed in the office 
of William M. Meredith as a student of law. Here he 
stuilied so diligently that he was admitted to the bar at 
a little more than twent)' \-ears of age. 

.Shortly alter his admission to practice, Mr. Vaux was 
sent abroad as the beai'er of despatches to Hon. Andrew 
Stevenson, then United .States Minister to Kngland. 
On arriving in London he found that he had been ap- 
pointed Secretary of Legation, which position he held 
for a )-ear. He was then offered the same post at St. 
Petersburg, but tleclined, and started on a journey 
through liurope. On his return to London he served 
for some time as |)ri\ate sccretar)- to Minister Stevenson, 
in which ]iosition he was brought into intimate association 
with the court and with the distinguished people of the 
metropolis. 

In 1839 Mr. V'aux returned to America,, uul was much 
surprised to learn that he had been nominated as the 
Democratic candidate to the Pennsylvania House of 
Representatives. In 1840 he served as a delegate in the 
convention that nominated Martin Van Burcn for the 
Presidenc)-. In the succeeding year he was appointed 



Recorder of Philadelphia, which position he held with 
high credit for seven \'ears. A volume of reports of his 
decisions, known as " Vaux Recorder's Decisions," was 
published, and is highly esteemed by the legal profession. 
In 1842 he was nominated for Maj'or on the Democratic 
ticket, and, though defeated, greatly reduced the majority 
of the opposite party. He was twice renominated for 
Mayor and defeated, and after the consolidation of the 
cit}' in 1854 ran again with the same result. Judge Con- 
rad being elected. At the next maj'oralty election he 
once more became the candidate of his part}', and on this 
occasion was elected. As Mayor he proved able and de- 
x'oted to the good of the cit}-, com[)leting the organization 
of the government under the act of consolidation, the 
system adopted by him continuing in force imtil the 
adoption of the new cit_\- charter in I 885. This charter 
Mr. Vau.x was instrumental in securing. He had outlined 
a similar .sy.stem in 1857, in his last message to Councils. 

About the time of his first nomination for Mayor, Mr. 
Vau.x was appointed Inspector of the State Prison by 
the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ; and soon after was 
elected Controller of the Public Schools, a post which 
had been long and abl)' filled by his father. In 1858 he 
was chosen one of the Directors of Girard College, and 
in the following \'ear was elected President of the Board. 
He introduced into this institution technological instruc- 
tion, and on the subsequent abandonment of this, secured 
the adoption of a provision requiring such pupils as were 
incajiable of following the higher branches of college 
study to learn some useful handicraft. 

In this position he was precluded from accepting any 
nomination to office, but was alwa_\'s popular with his 
l)art_\', and was three times nominated for I'",lector-at-Large. 
In the year 1S72 he was one of the three Democratic 
canditlates for Congressman-at-Large. P'or more than 
fort)' )'ears he served as President of the ]5oard of In- 
spectors of the Eastern Penitentiar)-, although the ma- 
jority of the Board differed with him in politics. He is 
at present, through appointment b)' the lioard ot Judges, 
a member of the Board of Cit>- Trusts, which has care 
of all trusts conferred upon the city of Philadelphia. 

Mr. V^uix has long been a prominent member of the 
Masonic order, antl is chairman of two of its important 
committees. He is also a member and president of the 
Philadelphia Club. He has been prominently connected 
with the American Philosophical Society, antl with the 
Historical Societx' of Pennsylvania, wiiich his fither 
aided to establish. He has published several valuable 
essays, and on the subject of Penology is considered an 
authority both in Europe and in this country. His re- 
ports on the Penitentiary aggregate nearly fifty volumes, 
while he has written numerous valuable treatises on 
crime, its causes and its punishment. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



145 



JOHN BARTRAM. 

Amom; tlic citizens whimi riiila<lcliilii.i " ilcliijhts in 
honor" must be nanKi.1 the subject of the present sketch, 
pronounced b)- the celebrated Linn;TJUs to be tlie tjreatest 
natural botanist in the world. lie was a grandson of 
John Bai'trani, — a member of tiie Society of I'^riends, 
who accompanied William Penn to America in 16.S2, — 
and was born in the \-icinity of I'hiladeliihia on March 
23, 1699. DuriuL;" his youth he manifcstetl a stronc^ 
desire for knowledj^e, and obtained some accjuaintance 
with the ancient languages. He gained a good knowl- 
edge, for his time, of medicine and surgery, though the 
princi|)al tendency of his thoughts was towards botany, 
a lo\-e for the stud\^ of plants h.uing manifestetl itself in 
him from liis cliildhood days. 

Ik^coming engagetl in the Ijusiness of farming, in a 
fine situation on the west liank of the Schuylkill, then 
four miles south (if the city, but now within its limits, he 
conceived the idea of firming a britcUiic garden of Amer- 
ican plants, and de\'otetl five or six acres of his farm to 
this purpose, planting the garden with his own hands. 
In time this garden Ijecune filled with a gre.it x-.uiety of 
American and e.xiitic plants, and still contains a nunilier 
of fine old trees. It has recentl)- been converted into 
one of the public parks of Philadelphia, under the title 
of " Partram's (iartlen," aiul is likel)' io become a favorite 
place of resort. 

Mr. Partram's love of botan_\' led lum tn engage in 
long excursions into the deep forests, which then lur- 
nished a \-irgin fiekl of research, and in 1743 he under- 
took an extensi\'e botanical excursion into the Americrui 
wilderness, in compan\' with an en\ o)- sent to the Six 
Nations of Imlians, of New York. P'or da\-s the)- tra\- 
elled through the forests until Onondaga was reached, 
from \vhich place Partram proceeded to Oswego, and 
partly explored the shores of Lake Ontario. I le brought 
back with him to Philadelphia a rich store of botanical 
specimens, aiul jjublished in 175 I a work describing his 
journey, with observations on the climate, soil, inhab- 
itants, etc. In 1765 he made another e.xtensi\-e jouine}-, 
passing overland from Charleston, South Cai-olina, to 

Note. — Tlicre i» no porlraiC uf Juhn I'.artiam in i-xUlfiRC. 



east P'lorida, and making a thorough exploration of the 
I'egiou oi the .St. John's Ri\er, wheie he collected many- 
curious plants before unknown. I lis map of the river 
and its surroimdings, and his jouiiial of ti'avels, wei-e 
afterwards published in London, in .addition to these 
public. itions, lie contributed several |)apers to the Ameri- 
can Philosophical .Societ)' and to the Ifdiisactioiis of 
foreign societies. 

Mr. I)arti-.uii w.is an intimate frientl of Dr. P'ranklin, 
and a correspondent of Sir Hans Sloane, Mr. Catesby, 
Di-. Ilill, Peter Collinsoii, ,unl other Pjiglish botanists, 
who luinished him with boiiks and ajiparatus and e.x- 
changetl sjjcciniens with him. Py this means the gar- 
dens ot luu-ope were enriched with many of tile flowering 
shrubs, plants, and trees of North America. He was 
made ,1 hVllow of the Royal aiul other foreign societies, 
ami was appointed "Amei'iciUi bot.mist to his Majesty, 
Oieoi'ge III.," .1 title of more honor then than now. 
Dining his scientific l.ibors, Mr. Pai'tram supported his 
family b\- f,u-niing, and built with his own hands, as we 
<u'e tolil, the stone house in which he lived, ciuarr\-ing, 
shaping, and laying the stones himself. This old mansion 
still stands, a quaint ami eiidLiring sjiecimen of early 
American architecture, and one of the chief attractions 
of the new park. He died -September 22, 1777. 

His son William, in whom his lo\e for botany was 
continued, was boiii on his father's farm in 1739. He 
was engaged for a time in mercantile pursuits in Phila- 
delphi.i and Chai'leston, and accompanied his father on 
the east P'lorida tiiii of the latter. In 1 77 1 he took up 
his residence on his fathei's farm, and in J 773, at the 
reiiue-^t of Dr. I'othergill, beg.m an extended iinestiga- 
tion of the natural products of the L'arolinas, Georgia, 
and Pd(.iri(ja, which he continued for five \-ears. He 
foi-warilei.l his large collections aiul his man_\- drawings 
to Dr. P'othergill, and published an account of his re- 
searches. This work is characterized b)- an enthusiastic 
lo\e of nature, especialK" of bot.mical ])ursuits. ]?esides 
his bot.mical discoveries, he prepiared the most complete 
t.ible of American birds before Wilson, whom he assisted 
in the commencement of his labors. Such was his love 
of botany that he wrote a tiescription of a plant a lew 
niiiuites before his death, which took place July 22, 1823. 



19 



146 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




ISAAC LHA. 

Isaac Lka, one of tlic nmst eminent of Philadelijhia 
scientists, was born in Wilmington, Delaware, in IJO-- 
Early in life he developed a fondness for the stud\- of 
nature, which was encouraL,'ed by his mother, who was 
well \erseil in botany. To this stutiy he added geolo<;y 
and mineralogy. His parents were Friends, but he lost 
his birthright in the Society b}- joining a military com- 
pany in 1S14, though the company was not called into 
serxice. In 1S15 he was elected a niembei- of the Acad- 
emy of Natural Sciences of riiil.idelphia, and soon began 
contributing to its l^rocccdiNiis. In i 82 I , having married 
the (-laughter of Alathew Care\-, the book publisher, he 
became a partner in the Inisiiiess. w ith which he remained 
connected till 1831. 

His attention to business did not tlecrease his diligence 
in scientific research, all his leisure being given to the 
stutl)' of natural history, and particularly' to that of land 
antl fresh-water shells, of which he began a series of 
descriptions of newl\'-disco\ered species, which was con- 
tinued throughout his life. His attention was [larticularly 
directed to the wide-spread and diversified genus Unio, 
on which his first paper was publishetl in 1827. His 
total contributions to the literature of this genus, entitled 
" ( )bscr\ations on the Genus Unio," embrace thirteen 
([uarto \(ilumes, niagnificentl\- ilhistratetl. His collec- 
tion of Unionidiu contains 10,000 specimens. In 1833 
the results of his geological studies were embodied in 
a work named " Contributions to Geology," the best 
illustrated palaiontological work which had appeared in 
the United States up to that time. Twenty years after- 
wards, in 1853, he published "Fossil Footmarks in the 



Red Sandstones of Potts\ille," in which are described 
footprints in sandstones seven hundred feet below the 
conglomerates of the coal formation. He subsequently 
found in the same strata bones and teeth of an animal 
which he named Clepsysaurus Pennsyhanicus. The 
existence of an air-breathing animal so low as the coal 
measures had not before been definitel)' known. 

In 1858 Mr. Lea was elected President of the Acad- 
emy of Natural Sciences, and helil this chair till 1863. 
In i860 he officiated as president of the American Asso- 
ciation for the Advancement of Science. The members 
of this association, and of the Hritish association of the 
same name, were entertained by him at his residence in 
Long Branch in 1884. He was a member of man\- other 
scientific societies in the United States and lun-ope, and 
in 1852 received from Harvard Universit}- the honorary 
degree of LL.D. 

Mr. Lea's contributir>ns on conchology to the I'raiis- 
iitlii'iis of the American Philosophical Societ}' are looked 
upon as the most \-aluable that have yet appeared on 
that subject. His discoveries in all embrace nearly 2000 
new species, while, in addition to his extensive collection 
of shells, his museum includes numerous fine examples 
of minerals, fossils, geological specimens, etc. All these 
were becjueathed b_\' him to the National Museum at 
Washington, with the proviso that they should be kept 
in a special room, and named the "Isaac Lea Collec- 
tion." Mr. Lea died in 1886. In the same year a 
sketch of him, biographical ami l)ibliographical, pre- 
pared b\' N. P. Scutlder, was published b\' the Smithso- 
nian Institution. 

His son, Henry C. Lea, born at Philadelphia in 1825, 
has become a historian of such ability and prominence 
that mention of him is recpiisite. At the age of seven- 
teen he entered the publishing house of his father, and 
ultimatel}' became its principal. In his younger studies 
he followed his father's example, and published several 
paj^ers on chemistr\- antl concholog)'. During the Civil 
War he organized a s)-stem of municipal bounties, to en- 
courage volunteers. Since 1857 he has de\'oted himself 
speciall}' to the study of mediaeval customs and institu- 
tions, and has published a number of highly valuable 
historical works, including " Superstition and Force : 
P-ssays on the Wager of Battle, the Wager of Law, the 
Ordeal and Torture," "An Historical View of Sacer- 
dotal Celibacy," "Studies in Church History," and "A 
History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages." His 
brother, Mathew Carey Lea, has been a deep student 
in chemistry, particularly in its relations to photograph)-, 
and is the author of "Manual of Photography," a work 
of standard authority. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



147 



RHV. RUSSELL H. CONWELL. 

RussEi.i. H. CoxwEi.i, was hcirn in the town (if Woitli- 
iiiLjtiin, Manipshirc Count)-, Massacliusetts, I'^ebruaiy 15, 
1843, and spent his early days upon a small farm situ- 
ated in the nidst sterile and mninitainnus portion of that 
region, known as " The luigle's Nest," \'er)' earl)' in 
his bo)'hood he was compelled to earn his own living, 
and, unassisted, secured the position which he no\\ holds 
as a " self-matle man." He kejit along with his classes in 
tlie district school b)- stud)-ing e\enings, wjiile working 
at manual labor during school hours, and earned b)' dail)' 
lalior his meagre suppl)- of food anil clothing while at 
the Acadeni)' in Wilbraham, Massachusetts. In i860 
he entered upon the law and academic courses ti)gcther 
at Yale College, the latter under a tutor, so as to econo- 
mize his time and reduce his expenses. Hut the War of 
the Rebelliiin interrupted his studies in 1803, and took 
him to the fiekl as a captain of infantry. He afterward.s 
served in the artiller)- branch of the service and as a staff 
officer. 

At the close of the war he graduated in the law de- 
partment of the Alljaii)- L'nix'crsit)- and went to Minne- 
sota, wiiere he began the practice of law. In 1867 he 
represented the State of Minnesota as its Emigration 
Agent to German)-, and became the foreign correspondent 
of his own newspaper. In 186S lie was engaged as the 
correspondent of the Xcic York Tribune, antl in the )-ear 
following as the tra\clling corresiioiulent of the pyoston 
Traveller. In 1870 he was sent to the ilifferent countries 
in Asia b)- the Xcic York Tribune and l>oslou Traveller, 
and made the entire circuit of the globe, filling at that 
time man)- imjioitant lecture engagements in India antl 
Mngiand. He afterwards visited I'aigland e.xclusi\-ely on 
a lecture tour thri.ingh the important cities of that country. 
In 1870 he jniblished his first book, " W'h)' and How the 
Chinese Emigrate." It has been followed b)- many others 
of an historical and biographical character. He was a 
friend antl tiaxelling comjsanion of Ha)-ard 'ra)lor, and 
his biography of that poet and tra\-eller h.id a \er)- ex- 
tended sale. His biograph)- of Spurgeon reached a sale 
of 125,000 copies in four months. 

His publisiietl works are, " W'h)- and I Io\\ the Chinese 
Emigrate," " Hist(->r)- of Great L'ire in .St. John," " His- 
tor)- of Great Fire in Boston," " Life of I'lesidcnt 
IIa)'es," "Life of President Garfield," "Life of Ba\'ard 
Taylor," " Life of Hon. James G. lilaine." " Lives of the 
Presidents," "Woman and the Law," "Conuell's S)-stem 
of ( )r,itor)'," " Acres of DiamontIs," "Little Bo," "Life 
of Charles H. Spurgeon." ( )f tlie latter, o\er 200,000 
copies were sold. 

For eight years he practised law- in Boston, and gained 




great poiiularit)' as a lecturer and writer. In 1879 he 
was ordained to the mii-iistr)-. In I 881 he accepted a call 
from Grace Baptist Church of Philadelphia, and removed 
to that cit\-. The small church of wiiich he assumed 
charge at once entered upon a career of extraordinar)' 
prosperit)-, and has become the largest BaiJtist church 
in America. The)- built in 1 89 1 a Temple on Broad 
.Street, Philadelphia, which will seat comfortably over four 
thousantl people, and has a caj)acit)- of fi\-e thousand. 
Mr. Con well's pre. idling draws such crowds of listeners 
that, f )r the past six )-ears, admission lias been obtained 
by tickets, and thousands are often turned away. 

AlthoLigh he is not an old man, Mr. Conwell has been 
in the lecture field more than thirty years, during which 
period he has delixered here and abroad o\er three 
thousand lectures. He is to-da)- one of America's most 
popular platform speakers, and almost the last of the 
stars w-ho made the platform brilliant in the days of 
Ciougli, Beecher, and Cliapin. He is in constant demand 
in all parts of the countr)-, and cannot respond to one- 
half the calls he receives. His large income from his 
lectures for twent)- )-cai-s has been wholK- devoted to the 
bene\'olent work of educating the poor. 

A short life of Mr. Conuell, written by an army com- 
rade, is published by Gill, Springfield, Mas.sachu.setts ; 
and a complete biograph)-, w ritten by Robert J. Burdette, 
will soon be issued. 

The Samaritan Hospital, on Broad Street, and the 
Temple College, also on Broad Street near the Temple, 
were both founded b)- him. The former is alwa)-s full, 
and the latter had in 1 894 an attendance of four thousand 
students. 



MS 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




RT. REV. ALUNZO POTTER. 

Alonzo PdTTKK was a member of a family which has 
been \o\\<^ eminent in the serxice of the Church. Mis 
brcitlier, Horatio Potter, has lon;^ been the Hisho]) of the 
Protestant p4:iiscopal Diocese of New York. His son, 
Henr\' C. Potter, was in 1883 consecrated Assistant 
Bishop of New York. Ancither son, Eliphalet N. Pot- 
ter, is President of Union College, Schenectad\-. He 
himself was the third liishop of Penns\'lvania, a post 
which he filled with the greatest lionor and distinction. 

]?isliop Potter descended from an pjiglish famil)-, which 
settled at Portsmouth, Riiode Island, some time near 
1650. He was born at Beekman, New York, in 1800. 
In 18 18 he graduated from Union College, in which he 
became, in 1821, Professor of Mathematics and Natural 
Philosophy. Coming to Philadelphia shortly afterwards, 
he entered upon the study of theology, undei' Re\-. S. H. 
Purner, in common with several other young candidates 
for the ministry. Having been ordained, he recei\ed and 
declined a call to the presidenc)' of Hobart College, and 
in iSj6 became rector of St. Paul's Cluu'ch, Boston. 
'Phis position he retained till 1 831, when he leturncd to 
Union College, the daughter c)f whose jjresident. Rev. 
Dr. Elipiialet Nott, he had married. He was now ap- 
pointed vice-president of this institution, and filled in it 
the chair of Moral Philosoph}-. Mr, l'otler"s ability was 
.so marked that the highest positions in the Clun-ch were 
soon at his command. He was elected .\ssistant Bishop 
of Massachusetts, with the succession to the episcopate 
on the death of the \-encrable Bishop Cjriswold, but de- 



clined to accept. In 1845, Bishop Onderdonk, of Penn- 
sylvania, having resigned, he was elected bishop of that 
diocese, and was consecrated in Christ Church on Sep- 
tember 23, 1845. 

The Church in Philadelphia had languished under his 
predecessor. It sprang into renewed activity under his 
control, and rapidl)' increased in extent and influence. 
He consecrated the Church of the Nativity on the day 
after his entrance upon the duties of his office, and within 
a week began an extended journe\- through his diocese, 
infusing his own energ\- into all the churches under his 
swa\-, and consecrating new churches in various quar- 
ters. In Philadel[)hia a large number of new churches 
were erected during the earl\- years of his episcopate. 
Throughout his whole administration the growth of the 
Church steadily continued, and an impetus was given it 
which still continues. His diocese embraced the whole 
State of Pennsylvania, the diocese of Pittsburg, em- 
bracing the western part of the State, not being formed 
until after liis death. 

Bishop Potter was a mrui of active and comprehensive 
intellect, of untii'ing energy, and an earnest devotion to 
, his \vork that ga\e him great influence alike among the 
clerg}- and the lait\- of his diocese. In the councils of 
the Church at large his influence was great. No one 
surpassed him in grasp of the position and needs of the 
Episcopal Church in America and in the \alue of liis 
recommendations for its development. In the pulpit and 
in liis [uiblic discourses he was clear and convincing, and, 
while indulging little in the rhetorical graces of oratory, 
had a force of utterance and breadth of argument which 
gave him the strongest hold upon the intellect of his 
hearers. 

In adtlition to the man)- churches erected during his 
episcopate, Philadeli)hi,i owes to him the Hospital of the 
Protestant Plpiscopal Church ani_l the Philadelphia Divin- 
ity- -School, while the P'liiscopal Academy was roused by 
him from inertness into usefulness. Several other Church 
institutions in Philadelphia were revived and t]uickened 
b\- his inspiring spirit. In addition to his pastoral labors, 
Bishop Potter was an active and able writer, his works 
showing deep learning, fine iiitellectual power, and broad 
Christian charity. The}- embrace " Political Economy : 
its Objects, Uses, an<l Principles Considered," " Hand- 
Book for Readers and Students," and other works. 

In 1865, his health failing, he sailed for California, but 
became so ill on the \-o\-age that he was unable to leave 
the vessel on its arrival at San P'rancisco. He died on 
board, July 4, 1865, of Panama fe\-er, which he had con- 
tracteil tluring a short sta)- on the isthmus. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



149 



ISAAC H. CL(JTHIHR. 

Isaac H. Clotiiiek, of the w iclcl\--knii\\ n I'ctail (lr\-- 
goods cstablislinicnt df Sti'a\\i)riclgc & Cli)tliicr, is a 
native nf Philadelphia, in which cit\' he was Ijm-n Xm-em- 
ber 5, 1837. His pai'ents were members of tjie Society 
of Friends, and his education was jjrincip.dly wljtained in 
the scliools of that society, his school-life ending at the 
age of seventeen, when he entered the importing dry- 
goods liouse of George D. I'arrish & Co. In this estab- 
lisliment he remaineil six \-ears, gaining a \-aluable train- 
ing in mercantile business, and displajang that acti\ity 
and conmiercial aptitude whicli ha\-e been tlie elements 
of his success in life. He left this liouse at the age of 
twent\'-tln'ee to enter into business for liimself, in associ- 
ation with George Morris and Kdmuntl Lewis. This firm, 
known b\' the name nf Morris, Clr>thier iS; Lewis, con- 
ducted a successful clotli business f^r eight \'ears, their 
establishment being situated im Second Street abo\'e 
Chestnut Street. 

In I S68 Mr. Clothier accepted proposals from Justus 
C. Strawbritige to enter into partnersliip with him, and 
on tiie 1st of Iul\- of that \-ear the retail dry-goods estab- 
lishment of Strawbritige & Clothier was founded in the 
location which it still occu])ies, at the north-west corner 
of Market aiui Lighth Streets. It began in a store of 
modest dimensions, and in a comparatively small way, 
but the business ability of the tlrni was shown alike in 
their choice of location tUid the skill and acti\ it}" with 
which tlie\" pushed their interests, and from the start the 
enterprise was successful. The business gi'ew, indeed, with 
such rapidity that an enlargement of the establishment 
became necessary e\-ery few years, the first of these being 
made in 1S75, and others successive!)- in 1877, 1878, 1881, 
and 1882. In 1887 tlie trade of tlie firm had grown so 
great tliat an e.\tensi\-e enlargement became necessary, 
and the large building previously occupied b\- Hood, Bon- 
bright & Co. was added to the already seemingly ample 
store, gi\'ing a ground area of over fifty tliousand square 
feet, w ith a height cjf fi\c stories. The establishment, as 
thus extended, probabl}- co\-ers a greater area than any 
other in America de\'oted to the retail sale of dr)--goods. 
During the period within which this firm has been in ex- 
istence there have been marked changes in the methods 
of conducting retail business in Philadelphia. The era 
of great general stores has come, and in this expansion 
of business ideas and facilities Strawbridge S: Clothier 
ha\'e kept pace with their competitors, and now possess 




an estal.)lishinent which has no superior of its kintl in 
this country. 

Mr. Clothier has been active in tlie business from liis 
first connection with it, and for the past fifteen years has 
been its leading sjiirit : as, while Mr. .Strawbridge has 
retained his interest in the hrm, he has not gi\-en close 
or continucjus attention to the liusiness, while Mr. Clo- 
thiei''s interest antl acti\ity remain as great as at the 
beginning. His time and attention ai'e naturall)'in great 
part absorbed b\' the resp(_)nsibilities of his large business 
establishment, but he finds time for other duties, educa- 
tional, charitable, etc. He has been for man\- \-ears an 
active manager of Swarthmore College, and has contrib- 
uted large]}-, in money as well as in time and labor, to 
tlie success of this institution. He is also a director of 
the Merchants' P'und, the Girard Trust Compan\-, the 
Mortgage Trust Compan\- of Philadelphia, etc. 

Strawbridge 8: Clothier are acti\-el\- identifietl with 
everything relating to tlie prosperit\- of Philadelphia and 
its citizens, but this is principallv as a firm, since, person- 
all\-, Mr. Clothier is retiring in dis])osition ami a\'erse to 
personal notoriet)-. llishoineis near \\'\'nnewood Sta- 
tion, Penns)-l\ania Railroad, seven miles from the cit}-, 
and he has a summer home on Conanicut Island, oj)po- 
site Xewi>ort, Rhode Island. He was married in 1864 
to Miss Jackson, daughter (.)f William Jackson, of Phila- 
delphia. He is a member of the Societ}- of p'riends, and 
attends the Meeting held at I-'ifteenth and Race Streets, 
Philadelphia. 



ISO 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




ALEXANDER K. McCLURE. 

Colonel McClure, the widely-known editor of Tlic 
Times, was born in Sherman's \'alley. Perry County, 
rennsyhania, Januar\- 9, 1828. tiie son of a farmer of tliat 
locality. At the age of fourteen his school-life ended, 
he being apprenticed to the tanner's trade. During hi.s 
apprenticeship he frequentl)- \isited the office of the Perry 
Erceuian. the count}- paper, whose editor. Judge Baker, 
became his friend anti aihiser. Here he grew sc) con- 
\-crsant with political matters that in the end lie wrote 
several articles which were ]5ublis]ied in the Freeman. 

About tills time the Whigs of Juniata Count)' decided 
to start a count}" organ of their cause, and asked Judge 
]?aker to recommend an editor. He prompth' named 
Alexander McClure, whom he urged and finall}- pre- 
vailed upon to undertake it. His fither, who had op- 
posed the project, finall}' supplied him w ilh some money, 
with which he bought a suppl}' of second-hand t}-pe and 
an old-fashioned hand-press, antl in the f<dl of 1846 he 
issued the Juniata Sentinel, still tlie leading Republican 
paper of the count}'. The paper prospered from the da}' 
it started. Yomig !McChne, then but nineteen years old, 
learned t}'pe-setting and all the business details of the 
office, and at the end of a \'ear dispensed with all experi- 
enced help, setting the t}'pe, doing the press-work, writing 
the editorials, and performing all the other labor of the 
office himself, with the aid of a single apprentice. 

Young as he was, McClure was thorouglil}- ind(_>c- 
trinated with the principles of the Whig part}', through 
the teachings of his fither and his con\'ersations with 
Judge Baker, and his editorials were written with such 
point and \-igor that the}' quickl}' attracted attention. 
In 1848 he took an active part in the campaign in which 
Go\'ernor Johnson was elected, and on the day in which 
he reached his t\\ ent}--first \'ear was appointed b}- the 



new gox'ernor upon his staff, with the rank and title of 
colonel. 

In 184S he had also supported xAndrew G. Curtin in 
his candidac}' for Congress. This ser\ice was repaid in 
1850 b}' Mr. Curtin ha\ ing him appointed deput}' United 
States marshal for Juniata Count}', to take the census 
of that }'ear. Soon after, a friend purchased for him a 
half interest in the Chambersburg Repository, and he 
entered upon a wider field of editorial dut}'. In the few 
succeeding years his abilit}' as a political editor became 
so manifest that in 1853 he was nominatetl as the Whig 
candidate for auditor-general, being the youngest man 
ever nominated for a State office in Pennsylvania. The 
Whigs, howe\'er, were in a minoiit}', antl he was defeated. 

Mr. McClure took an acti\e part in the subsequent 
organization of the Republican part}', was a delegate to 
the con\'ention that nominated Fremont, and stumped 
the State in his fa\or. In iS;6 he sold his paper, and 
ga\e up jom'nalism for the practice of the law, in whose 
stud}' he IkkI long been engaged. This did not continue 
long. In 1857 he was elected to the State Legislature, 
re-elected in 1868, and sent to the State Senate in 1S69, 
after a vigorous campaign, in which his powers as an 
orator were strikingly shown. In i860 he took a leading 
part in the presidential and gubernatorial campaigns, 
organized the Republican part}- of the State, and was 
the acknowledged State leader in the active contest that 
gave Lincoln the majorit}' and sent Curtin to the gov- 
ernor's chair with a majorit}' of 32,164. 

In 1862 he was appointed Assistant Adjutant-General, 
with the dut}' <>f enforcing the draft in I'enns}'lvania. 
Tliis was so abl}' done that the State's quota of regi- 
ments was quickl}' filled. In the same }'ear he repur- 
chased the Repository, and retuinetl to editorial duties, 
wliich he cuntinued till 1864, in which }'ear his office was 
burned during the Confederate raid, and his entire for- 
tune of nearl}' Si 00,000 was lost. 

Mr. McClure came to Philadelphia in 1868, and entered 
upon the practice of the law, proposing to gi\e up poli- 
tics. But in the 1872 movement for reform within the 
part}' ranks he took an active part, became a Liberal 
Republican candidate for the State Senate, was declared 
defeated, but contested the election, and gained his seat 
b\' senatorial decision. In 1873 he was on the inde- 
pendent ticket for mayor of Philadelphia, but was de- 
feated by a small maiorit}% after a vigorous and exciting 
campaign. In 1875 he resumed journalism, in conjunc- 
tion with Mr. Frank McLaughlin starting Tlic Times 
newspaper as an independent journal, pledged to assail 
misconduct in office without regard to party lines. This 
position it has maintained to the present time. During 
tlie period that has succeeded, Mr. McClure has devoted 
himself to journalism, and the history of The Times has 
been that of its energetic and aggressi\'e editor. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



151 



JUDGE FREDERICK CARROLL BREWSTER. 

Frederick Carroll Brewster, son of Francis Enoch 
Brewster, who had for many j-cars been a prominent 
member of the Philadelphia bar, was boin in Philadel- 
phia, Alay 15, 1S25. He was sent tn the old Friends' 
Select ScliDol at I'ourth and Chestnut Streets, where he 
was careful!}- trained and fitted for collet^fc. He entered 
the Uni\'ersit\' i)f Pennsyhania, then located in the old 
Ninth Street buildings, while Rev. Dr. I.utllnw, the father 
of Judi^L' Ludlow, was pro\x)st, or president. I'lie \'i)ung 
student displayed threat iiuhistry and aptness for learning', 
until in 1^41, when just about si.xteen \X'ars of age. he 
graduated with all the honors of the institution. William 
Henry Rawle anil linn. Ilnratio Gates Jones were col- 
lege-mates with him. ludge Brewster has ,dways main- 
tained an acti\e relationship with the tViends of the 
Universit}', and he has often gi\en evidence of the 
interest he feels in the ijermaneiit reputation and future 
welfare of his Alma Alater. He was for years Presi- 
dent of the Societ\- of the Alumni, and <>n several oc- 
casions has been calletl upon to deli\'er adtlresses to 
the students and patrtms of the LTni\'ersit\- of Pennsyl- 
\'ania in West Philadelphia. He was the orator at the 
laying of the corner-stone ol the new edifice. In testi- 
mony of the esteem entertained foi- him by the L'ni- 
versit}', he was honored with the degree of Doctor of 
Laws. 

Thi:iugh leax'ing the Lhiixersit)' at an early age, he at 
once began the stud\' of the law in his father's office. A 
natural adaptation for the profession was soon developed, 
and in those early \-ears cif his life he Ijecame so proficient 
in his preparation that, upon application and due e.xami- 
nation, he was admitted to the bar, September 20, 1844, 
when but little o\er nineteen \-ears of age. 

In his profession he achie\ed markeil success. In the 
criminal courts he became concerned in many trials of 
much public interest. Among the most important of 
these was that in which Air. Thomas Allibone, president 
of the PennsyK'ania Bank, was charged after the collapse 
of that institution with conspirac}- to defraud the bank. 
The newspapers, and public o[)inion generall}', were 
strongly against the accused, but Mr. Brewster defended 
him with such skill and energ_\- that Mr. Allibone was 
declared innocent, and public opinion clearl_\- shown to 
have been wrong. He was concernetl in man_\' homicide 
cases and never lost a client. 

In 1856 he conducted a celebrated ci\il case, the con- 
test for the clistrict-attorne}\ship between Lewis C Cas- 
sid_\- and William B. Mann, winning the case for Mr. 
Mann. It was the most important question of its kind 
ever solved by a Philadelijhia court, and has since been 
held as a standard precedent in election contests in this 
cit}-. The political excitement aroirsed b\' it was the 
greatest that has ever here been known. From that 




time he was for man)' \'ears the le^ider in election cases 
and the ci\ il courts. 

It was not until the period of the Civil War that Mr. 
Bi'ew'ster entered the political field. The interests of the 
city at that time of financial ilifficult}' were such as to 
re(|uii'e the greatest legal skill for their conservation. 
The Republican party, without consulting Mr. I^rewster, 
nominated him for Cit)' .Solicitor. He was supported by 
a strong intlependent mo\ enient anil elected b_\' a large 
majorit}' to an office to which he was to give the credit 
and importance which it had previously lacked. The 
most important (juestiim with which he was called upon to 
deal was that concerning the Girard Estate. A vigorous 
effort had been made by the heirs of -Stephen Girard to 
oxerturn the will b\' which such large bequests had been 
made to the city and college. Mr. lirewster, in 1863, 
ajipealed this case to the Supreme Court, before which he 
defended the interests of the cit)- with SLich legal acunien 
that the decision was rendered in his fa\'or, and the niag- 
nificent trust secured. He gained the Chestnut Street 
britlge suit before the Supreme Court at Washington 
anil a number of Coiistitutional cases, notabl)' the State 
Bount)' Act, in\'()l\iiig many millions of dollars. 

After ser\ ing for two terms ,'is Cit\" Solicitor, Mr. 
Brewster was elected juilge in the Philadelphia courts, 
and in I S69 was api)ointed b\' Go\'ernor Gear\- Attorne)'- 
General of the State of Penns\-lvania, an office which he 
filled with eminent satisfiction for three \'ears. 

Juilge Brewster is also the author of se\eral works of 
importance, including " Aloliere in Outline," "The Life 
and Writings of Disraeli," " A Digest of Pennsylvania 
Cases," " Brewster's Blackstone," " The Rule in Shelly's 
Case," " Brewster's Reports," four volumes, " Practice in 
the Common Pleas Courts," two xolumes, and " Practice 
in the Orphans' Court," two volumes. 



i^: 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




WILLIAM F. McCULLY. 

W'lLMWi I"Ki:ia.AXD McCl'i.i.v was born in Thilatlcl- 
j)hia, l)cccnil)(.T 8, 1S39, his fiithcr, James McCull\-, beiny j 
a prominent Democratic citizen of the old Southwark 
District, which he ser\-eti, officiall}-, as one of the Com- 
missioners, and also as a member of its School Board, 
he beinij t^^reatl}- interested in the public school S}'stem 
of etkication. The son received his education in the 
public schools of the city, his school life endiny in the 
Central Hiyh School at the a!:;e of sixteen, at which aije 
he was ap[)renticed to \\. 1. llincken, one of the i)ro- 
prietors of the Sunday Dispalih. to learn the trade of 
pressman. Havins; completed his term of apprenticeship 
and mastered the craft, he was given the charge of the 
press-room of the [japer as foreman, and remainei.l in this 
l^osition till 1859, when he accepted a simil.ir p(_)sition on 
the E-i'niiiii^ Ihillctin. With that journal he has since re- ' 
mained comiected, ad\ancing from pressman to business 
manager, and from that post to publisher. He had pur- ) 
chased a number of shaies in the stock of the publishing 
coni[)any. and in 1S73 he was taken into the firm, retain- 1 
ing the post of business manager, in which he hail for , 
years shown himself so efficient. I 

The interest in the public schools shown by the elder j 
Air. i\IcCuIl_\- was shared b_v his son. who earl\- titok an 
acti\'e part in the management of the schools of his 
ward, antl when but twcnt}--two years of age was elected 
a member of the .School lioard of the Third Section, and 
chosen b\- his fellow-members president of the Board. 
This position he held for three years, when he became 



ineligible for re-election from ha\ing mo\'ed out of the 
ward. 

During the da\-s of the old Wilunteer L'ire Department, 
Mr. McCulh' was closel\- connected with it, ha\ing be- 
come a member of the Hibernia Fire Engine Company 
before he was eighteen j'cars of age. At a subsequent 
date he was elected recorder and treasurer of that or- 
ganization, and on the formation of the honorary associa- 
tion of members of the company, called the " Old Guard," 
in 1865, he was elected a member of it, having served 
nine years as an active fireman. When this association 
was officiall}' organized he was made its president, w hich 
position he still holds. He is also president of the Hi- 
bernia h'ire Compaii)', which still keeps up its organization 
despite the fact that the active duties of the volunteer 
firemen ha\-e long been at an entl. In Januar\-, 1894, 
he was elected presitlent of the Volunteer Fireman's 
Association. 

WHien the Paid Fire Department was organized, De- 
cember 31, 1S70, Mr. McCully was elected b\' the City 
Councils a member of the new Board of Fire Commis- 
sioners organizing the present Paid P'ire Department, 
and ser\ed till 1S75. In May. 1 88 1, he was re-elected by 
Councils to fill an unexpired term ; and in Februar\-, 
1883, was again elected for a full term. In 1875 he was 
offered b}' his part}- a nomination to the office of Magis- 
trate, and in 1880 was nominated for Recorder of Deeds, 
but declined both on the plea of a pressure of other duties. 

On the various occasions in which the \'olunteer fire- 
men have taken part, in recent }-ears, in public demon- 
strations, Air. McCull}' h.is prominentl}' officiated. (Jn 
Washington's Birthda}-, 1870, when the fire department 
dedicated a monument to Da\-id AI. Lyle, late Chief- 
P'.ngineer of the department, he acted as Chief-Marshal 
of the parade, and has occupied a post of honor on 
anniversary and other occasions. On one of the reunions 
of the compau}', he was presented with a handsome gold 
watch and chain and Masonic mark (valued at seven 
lumdred dollars) in token of the appreciation of his ser- 
\ices b}' his fellow members. 

Mr. A'IcCull}' has been connected with the Americus 
Club since its organization, being one of the original roll 
of life members, and for twelve years its secretary. He 
is also a prominent member of the Alasonic order, being 
a Past Alaster of Alt. Aloriah Lodge, No. 155 ; a member 
of Harmon}' Chapter. R.A.AI., No. 52; a member of 
Philadelphia Commander}-, No. 2, Knights Templar; a 
Past Master of Philadelphia Council, and a member of 
the Consistor}-. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



IS3 



TATTNALL PAULDING. 

A CENTL'KV and more ago the name of Paulding be- 
came famous in American liistory through the capture 
by John Paulding and two comjjanions of Major Andre, 
of tlic l^ritisli Aiiny, nn liis way from West Point to 
New York, after liis inter\'iew with the traitor Benedict 
j\rnold. It is a matter of history liow I\Lijor Andre failed 
in his attempt tn bribe his stanchK' j)atrintic captors, and 
how he was tried, con\icted, antl executed as a spy. His 



son rose to distinction as Rear-Atlmi 



Pauldinsj, of the 



United States Nav\-. Colonel Tatnall Paulding, the son 
of the l.ittcr, is a nati\e of the State of New York, where 
he was jjorn in the year 1840. 

In Apiil, iS6i,at the outbreak of the Ci\il W'ar, when 
about t\\ent\'-one )"ears of age, Mr. Paulding enlisteil in 
the ranks of the Sex'enth Regiment of New York, and 
went with it into acti\-e service. He remained with that 
regiment onl_\' vmtil May 14 follnwing. when he received 
the appointment of lieutenant in the .Sixth L'nited States 
regular ca\alr_\', with which commanel he served through 
the war, |3ai'ticipating in the \arious memorable battles 
of the .\rm\- of the Potomac. <3n the third da_\- of the 
hotlx'-contested battle of Gettysburg he was made pris- 
oner b\" the enemy, and passed nine months of bitter 
experience in Libb\- Prison, at Richmontl. L'poii his 
liberation he rejoined his regiment, and continued in ac- 
tive ser\'ice until July, 1866, when he resignetl, ha\-ing in 
the meantime been promoted thi'ough the various grades 
up to that i:)f lieuten.mt-colonel, by brevet, for gallant 
services. 

After lea\ing the army, Colonel P.uilding locatetl in 
the cit\- of Philadelphia, — his father being at that time 
Governor of the Na\-al Home in that city. — and entered 
upon the study of the law, which he soon relinquished 
in order to undertake more acti\-e business. In iSjo he 
commenced the fire insurance business as an agent and 
broker, becoming a member of the firm of Carstairs & 
Paulding, then well-known fire untlerw riters in Philadel- 
phia. This firm subsequently became Carstairs, Paulding 
& Peckwith. In 1 87 1 he became the Philadelphia agent 
and representative of the Commercial Union, of Eng- 
land, which then first extended its business to this cit)-, 
and subsequentl)' of the London and Lancashire Com- 
pany, of Liverpool, and other ofifices of high standing at 
home and abroad. In all these companies Mr. Paulding 
enjo\-ed the fullest confidence of the home officers, and 
worked efficientl}- in the development of their business. 
He was a particularl\- successful underwriter in the vari- 
ous fields assigned to his guidance by his companies, his 
success arising alike from liis practical experience and 
from his close stud\- of the principles of the business, 
which made him thoroughly familiar with its theory ; in a 
word, he took pride in his profession and worked therein 
with earnest energy and intelligence. 




It was doubtless this tlevotion to, and his e\ident mas- 
tery of, the science of his chosen profession, as well as 
his sterling character and recognized ability, that attracted 
to Colonel Paulding the attention of the directors of the 
old Delaware Mutual Safet\' Insunuice Compan\-, when 
in i88(j-ijo a r,idical change was contemphited, not onl\- 
in the name, but in the old-time methods of business of 
that institution, and a competent person was sought to 
cai'rx' the proposed changes to a definite comjiletion, and 
place the Delaware on ,ni eiiuality with its coiifra-cs of 
the city in which it dwelt. Colonel Paulding was selected 
as the man who could |)ilot the compan}" safely through 
its troubles, and the jM'esidenc)- was tendered to and 
I accepted b\' him. He at once entered upon the onerous 
' duties imposed b\" the high position occupied b\- him, 
and the confidence of the directors has been fully war- 
ranted b\- their newh'-elected president's dex'otion to the 
interests confided to his keeping. 

A few words as to the earl_\- histor\- of this sterling- 
old compan\- will not lie amiss. It was chartered in 
1835 under the name of the Delaware County Insurance 
Compan}-, being then located in Chester. Penns\-lvania. 
In i8:;8 it was removed to offices in the Merchants' 
Ivxchange, of Philadelphia, and in 1843 its name was 
changed to Delaware Mutual Safet\- Insurance Corn- 
pan}-, it having adopted the mutual principle, under 
which the profits, after paying dix-idends to stock- 
holders, were to be armuall}- divided in scrip .'imong 
the insured. In 1853 the property on the south-west 
j corner of Third antl Walnut Streets was purchased, 
I and the present substantial and commodious building 
1 erected thereon. The compan}- now bears the name 
of Delaware Insurance Com[)an}-. Under the able 
management of Colonel Paulding, we ma\- safely pre- 
dict for it an increased future prosperitj-. 



20 



154 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




NATHAN W. AVER. 

The A_\-cr faiiiiU- w.is among the niakci's of old New 
England, John Ayer ha\ ing been bnt sixteen years behind 
the " Mayflower" pilgrims, entering the colony of Massa- 
chusetts Ba\- in 1636, two hundred and fift\--eight years 
ago. '' 

Tile famih-siion iemo\ed to Connecticut, where they I 
settletl permanently, and w hei'e the subject of this sketch 
Nathan Wheeler Ayer, was bom on January 21, 18 17, 
at Preston, near Norwich. 

He was graduated fnim lii-own I'niversity, then under 
the care of that famous educator. Dr. h'lancis \\'a\danLl, 
in 1840. In 1852, he was admitteil to the bar in Berk- 
shire Count)-, Massachusetts, but practised law only a 
.short time. Much of his life was spent in teaching. He 
was principal of several large academies in New York 
State, and came to this citv in 1867, to assume charge of 
a young ladies' seminary. This was, however, soon dis- 
posed of, and in April, 1869, with his son, F. Wayland 
Ayer, he established a Newspaper Advertising Agency, 
then and since knc:)\\n as N. W. A\-er & Son. 

The conditions then existing in the business world make 
the conception and incejjtion of this enterprise a matter of 
general interest. Where the utilit}- of newspaper ad\-er- 
tising may now be said to be little understood, then it was 
scared)' suspected. The undertaking involved the de- 
velopment of a method, whose use perhaps none of the 
bright men mentioned in tliis work would then ha\-e e\'en 
considered, into one which scarcely any business man can 
afford to ignore ; and the elevation of the advertising agent 
from the canw'isser, whose chief concern was to get an 
order for something, to the agency wliose skill, experi- 



ence, and ficilities should be sought alike by those who 
wish to spend a dollar or a hundred thousand. 

Three convictions governed in the foundation of this new 
and unusual business, and ha\-e controlled it to this day : 

First, an unwavering belief in the value of newspaper 
ad\-ertising as a common-sense method of getting and 
keeping business, and in its applicabilit\- to almost every 
line. 

Second, tliat profit or loss to the newspaper advertiser 
depends almost altogether on how the ad\ertising is done ; 
it being not a nuittei' of "just hitting it," but rather of 
wlieii, where, and how the strokes are gi\en. 

Third, that everv customer should receixe the best 
ach'ice experience could suggest, the most exact ser\-ice 
organization coulil secure, and the greatest \'alue his 
mone\' could buw 

So f>inided aiul conducteil, large success was but a 
matter of time, and elates are but milestones in the path 
of its progress. It was first quartered at 530 Arch Street, 
where two hundred and fift_\- dollars, the only outside cash 
it ever receixed, was put in as capital. Here, without 
acquaintance, experience, or employees, the two partners, 
ftther and son, started out to demonstrate to business 
men the value of newspaper ad\'ertising. 

The}' soon moved to 719 Sansom Street, antl in 1871 
to in Sansom Street. Here growth was rapitl. While 
located here, on r"ebriiar_\- 7, 1873, the fither and founder 
died, lea\ ing the son alone to push the enterprise along 
the lines they had together marked out. 0\\ January i, 
1874, Mr. George O. Wallace, the first emplo)'ee of the 
house, became a partner. More room being again neces- 
sar)-, December, 1876, they leased the second floor of the 
Times Building, then just erected, at Chestnut and Eighth 
Streets. Here the business has remained, absorbing 
more and more space, until all the floors above the first, 
together with those of an adjoining building, have been 
filled with their bus\- clerks. In (October, 1877, Coe, 
\\'etherill & Compan\', old competitors, were bought out, 
and in 18S1 the Philadelphia branch of S. M. Pettingill 
& Comp.uix' was likewise absorbed. In Januarx', 1878, 
H. N. McKinne)- became a partner. On December 28, 
18S7, Mr. Wallace died. To-da_\- the firm consists of 
Mr. I''. W. A)-er and Mr. I\IcKinne\\ With its one 
hundred and twent_\--h\e emplo\-ees, antl an annLial busi- 
ness expressed in millions, it is ever_\"whcre recognized 
as the leader in its line. 

Such, in briefest outline, is the histoi-\- of a business 
that has been made in Philadeli)hia ; that has brought 
millions of dollars to this localit)-, and has extended 
knowledge of our city and its facilities where\'er in this 
land press and paper unite to tell the woi-ld of what the 
world proposes, what it is doing, and what it has done. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



155 



SAMUF.L R. SHIPLEY. 

I\Ik. Samuel R. Shiplev, the President of the Provi- 
dent Life and Trust Compan}- of Philadeipliia, is a t;en- 
tleman extensi\-el\' known, not onl}- in liis native cit\-, but 
through the princii)al commercial cities of the North. 
He was born on the 8th da}- of Januar)-. 1828, of Quaker 
parentage. His father was Thomas .Shiplc)-, long the 
President of the old Abolition Society of Pennsxdvania, 
of which ]5eniamin l-'ranklin was the hrst Presitlent. In 
conipan\- with William Llo)'d Garrison, Arnold l^uffum, 
John G. Whittier, and otiiers, he assisted in the formation 
of the American Anti-Sla\er_\- Societ)'. .\t his death, in 
1836, his body was carried to his burial in the grounds of 
the Quaker IMecting-House, at Fourth and Arch Streets, 
b\' six coloreil men whom he had sa\'ed from bondage. 
The colored people turned out in \ast numbers to do 
honor to him who had been their friend and benefactor. 
Mr. Poulson, the editor of the Aiiuriian Daily Adver- 
tiser, commented on this remarkable scene as follows: 
"A week ago, Aaron Burr was buried with the honors 
of war; yesterda\', Thomas Shipley w.is buned with the 
honors of peace. Let the reflecting minti pause on the 
honorable contrast." ^L'. Shiple\-'s motlier was de- 
scended from John Sh.irpless, of Upland, Pa., who was 
one of the associates of William Penn in the early found- 
ing of the Commonwealth of Penns}-lvania. !\Ir. Shipley 
was educated at the widely-known Friends' Boarding- 
School at Westtown, Chester Count)-, Penn.sylvania. 

At a \-er\- earl\- age he became a member of the large 
importing house of C. W. Churchman & Co., of Philadel- 
phia. As a member of the firm, he made several jour- 
ne\'s tiT England and the Continent in the prosecution iif 
its business, and speedil\- acquired prominence as a mer- 
chant in the highest and most honorable sense of the 
term. In the unexaiiipled commercial disasters of 1857, 
the house with which he was connected became finan- 
cial!}' embarrassed, and was unable to pa}- its debts. The 
creditors of the firm, recognizing the unimpeachable 
honor and good faith (->f the ])artners, speedily granted 
them a release from their unpaid indebtedness, and in 
less than three months from the time of the failure Mr. 
Shiple}- was at the head of the firm of .Shiple}-, Hazard 
& Hutchinson, a new house founded to carry on the 
dry-goods business of the old concern. After a brief 
history of si.x }-ears this house dissoKed, Mr. Shiple}- 
retiring from all active business. Successful be}-ond 
expectation, Mr. Shipley was able not onl}- to pa}', in 
connection with his former associates of the firm of C. 




has continued for a period of nearly thirty years to pre- 
side over its administration. The compan}- is universally 
recognized as one of the stanchest and most admirably 
managed life iiisurance companies in America, and as a 
trust company it is of the highest rank. The period 
inmiediatel}- following the Ci\il War was prolific in life 
insurance ventures. The Pro\ident Life and Trust Com- 
pany of Philadelphia is almost the onl}- life insurance 
company organized at that time which aciiieved perma- 
nent success. Its business is twofold, — life insurance 
upon the mutual plan, ami what is known as the trust 
business. 15oth call fir the maintenance of a high 
standard of securit}-. In the latter case no coinpaiiy 
without the highest reputation for skilful and conservative 
management can hope to ha\-e confided to it the impor- 
tant and sacred duties which relate to the care of the 
estates of deceased persons and those in\-olved in the 
management of trusts. .Such a union of the tw-o kinds 
of business existed nominall}' in this cit}- in the case of 
an old established compan}- iif the highest standing. It 
was reser\-ed to the Provident Life and Trust Compan}', 
under the able direction of i\Ir. Shiple}-, to demonstrate 
the practicabilit}- of the full development of both. To 
have succeeded in either would ha\-e been to gain an 
honorable reputation ; to ha\e signall}- succeeded in both 
was to achieve a result ne\-er before successfully at- 
temptetl in this countr}-. 

Mr. Shiple}' also assisted in the foi-m,Uion ol the Cen- 
tral National Bank of Philadelphia, which, under the 
W. Churchman & Co., the entire deficit of that firm, but management of Mr. George M. Troutman, has become 



to have left over a sufficient sum to gratily his motlerate 
desires. 

Too }'oung a man to be unemployed, Mr. Shipley soon 
found himself at the head of the Pro\'ident Life and Trust 
Compan}- of Philadelphia. He was its first President, and 



one of the most prosperous and successful banks of the 
cit}-. Mr. Shipley is a man}--sided man, having the dis- 
position to serve others as well as himself He has long 
been connected w-ith some of the most important benevo- 
lent institutions of his native city. 



i=;6 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




RT. RHV. MARK ANTONY UhWOLFE HOWH. 

Mark An'tuny DE\Vor.i-E Howe, first bishop of the 
Protestant Episci.ipal Diocese of Central l'enns)-haiiia, 
was born in liristol, Rhode Island, April 5, iSoS. He 
received a liberal education, his earlier schix.il life being 
jjassed at Phillips Acadeni}', Andox'er, and at the College 
of Middlebur}-, Vermont, in which latter institution he 
remained two _\-ears. In i.Sj6 he entered Brown Univer- 
sity, tVom which institution he graduated in 1.S28. After 
his graduation, he became for a time classical tutor in 
Brown University, during which period he diligently 
pursued the study of theolog)-, ha\ing decided to enter 
the Church. In 1S32, haxing completed his course of 
preliminary study, he was ordained deacon by Bishop 
Griswold, his preceptor, and in 1833 was ordained priest. 
His life as a pastor began inunetliately afterwards, his 
first parish being St. Matthias, in .South Boston. Here 
he remained but a short time, ami in ( )ctober, 1833, 
became rector of St. J.mies's W'hurch, lvo.\bur_\-, Massa- 
chusetts. This pastoi'al charge he retained for thirteen 
years, with the interruption of the year 1836, during 
which he served as rector ol Cliiist Church, Cambridge. 
While there he etlitetl the C/iristiiin Witness. 

In 1846 he removed to Philadeljihia, and began his j 
long period of clerical service in that city as rector of! 
St. Luke's Church, on Thii'teenth .Street, below Spruce. 
His connection with this church continued for many 
years, during which he was acti\-el_\' and usefully engaged 
in pastoral duties, and gaineil a high reputation for elo- | 
quence and for earnestness and fidelit)- in the discharge ; 



of his pastoral duties. During his period of residence 
in Philadeli)hia, he was honored b\' appointment to several 
important fields of duty. In 1850 he was chosen as Sec- 
retary of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, and 
continued to perform the duties of this position for twelve 
years. At the end of this period, in 1 862, he was selected 
as a deputy to the General Convention of the Church, 
and was annually reappointed till 1872. In 1865 he 
was elected Missionary Bishop of Nevaila, but declined 
the position. In the same year he published a memo- 
rial " Life of Bishop Alonzo Potter." Throughout the 
Civil War he was an earnest ad\-ocate of the Union 
cause, and during its continuance he engaged in an 
animated newspaper controversy with Bishop Hopkins 
on the subject of slaver)-. The statement of his \iews 
on this subject were published in 1S64, in a pamphlet 
entitled " Domestic Sla\er\- ; a Re])l_\- to Bishop Hop- 
kins." 

The I^piscopal Diocese of Penns}-hania, which once 
embraced the whole State, had been from time to time 
reduced in area, in consequence of the r.qiid growth of 
l^arishes, new ilioceses being formed, until the original 
Diocese of Penns\-lvania became restricted to Philadel- 
phia and its immediate vicinit\-. In 1871 the Diocese of 
Central Pemisyhania was createtl, embracing the city of 
Reading and an extended surrounding territory. Mr. 
Howe's standing in the Church was by this time so 
prominent, and his reputation as an able theologian so 
great, that on the creation of the new diocese he was 
elected and consecrated its bishop. He at once entered 
actively upon the duties of this extensive see, the posi- 
tion being an artluous one from the width of territory 
to be covered. These duties he continued to perform 
alone until his se\-enty-seventh )'ear of age, -when he 
was relieved by the ajapointment of an assistant, Bishop 
Rulison. Though now eighty-six years old, he is still 
actively engaged in the duties of his episcopate, with the 
aid of his able assistant. In 1875 he took part in the 
Lambeth Conference of Anglican Bishops. In 1848 
Brown University conferred on him the honorary title 
of D.D., and in 1872 the University of Penn.sylvania 
honored him with the title of LL.D. In addition to the 
publications named, he has published a number of ser- 
mons, essaj'S, and addresses, including "A Review of the 
Report of the Boston Public Schools" (1S45), "Oration 
before the Phi Beta Kappa Society" (1852), " Poem read 
at the Bi-Centenary of Bri.stol, Rhode Island" (1882), 
and " Charge to the Clergy of the Diocese of Central 
Penns_\-lvania" (1886). 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



157 



RT. RF.V. MATTHEW SIMPSON. 

Till". Methodist Episcopal Church in AnuTica lias had 
no more able and _L;;iftcd bishop than he whose name is 
abo\-e i;i\en. ami who so lonij presided o\er the Cliiirch 
in this distiict. lie was b(.)rn in Cadiz, (Jhin, in iSlo, 
where his lather, of Ii'ish bii'tli, had settled and entered 
into business as a merchant, lli-^ nidther was of Scotch 
ancestr\-. Matthew be^^an lli^ eilucatioiial life as a stmlent 
in Cadiz, at whose Academy he made prot^ress in lin- 
guistic stud\". His education was continued at Madison 
College, IlamiltDii, New York, where his studies included 
mathematics, Hebrew, etc. He taui^ht fur a time in this 
college, and, on returning home, .studied meilicine, .md 
practised for a short periinl. In 1S33 he entered the 
ministr_\- of the Methodist Church, and, after some i)re- 
liminar}- pastoral dut\', receixed an appointment at Pitts- 
burg in 1834. He remained here and in Monongahela 
City for several }'ears, and in 1S37 became \'ice-Presi(.lent 
and Professor of Natural Science in AUeghaii)- College. 
This position was exchanged in 1839 for that of Presi- 
dent of Asbury Lnixersit)', Indiana, which he held till 
1848. In 1844, as a delegate to the (ieneral Conference, 
he took part in the contnix ersy on skue-holding which 
divided the Methotlist Church. 

In 1848, he became editor of the Jl'iS/i/// ChristiaJi 
Advociilc, publishei.! at Cincinnati, which he held tor four ' 
years. During this period he was offered, but declined, 
the presidency both of the Xorth-w estern l'ni\ersit_\' ami 
of Dickinson College. In 1852, at the Boston Confer- 
ence, he w,is chosen bishop, his residence being fi.xed 
at Philadeli)liia. His time, however, for a consitlerable 
period was largel_\- spent in foreign iouineys, one of 
them extending around the world. In 1857, he attended 
the Irish and Pritish Conferences as an American dele- 
gate, and from there went to Peiiiii as a delegate to the 
Pivangelical Alliance. After this he travelled widel)' 1 
through luirope, Asia, and ICgypt, returning in 1858 so ^ 
debilitated tli.it for a \-ear he was unable to preach. 

At home his actix'it)- continued. In 1859 he became 
President of the Garret Biblical Institute, for the purpose 
of giving force to his opinion in fuur of the establish- 
ment of tjieological schools as a part of the polic)' of 
the Methodist Church, which innoxation he strong!}' siis- 
tainetl. This polic)- is n(.iw full_\- adopted. During the 
war, Bishop Simpson was one of the first to ad\ise the 
emancipation of the slaves, impressing his views on the 
President through Secretarj- Stanton, with whom he was 
an intimate friend. ( )n his return from a ]'ourne\- to Cali- 




foinia in l8(>2, he was glad to learn that President Lincoln 
had issued a iirelimin.iry eniancip.itioii proclamation. 

In the tall ot i8()3, ,ui able addiess was delivered by 
him at the .Academy of Music, Philadelphia, before the 
Christian Commission. This lectui'e, entitled "The 
I'uture of <.)ur Country," was afterwards repeated in 
\'arious other cities, aiul added greatU' to his fame as an 
orator. He became intimately acquainted with President 
Lincoln, preached in the Capitol on the da_\' after his 
second inauguration, and rode from the building with 
Mr. ami Mrs. Ldncoln. That was the last time he saw 
the President ali\e ; but, at Mrs. Lincoln's recpiest, he 
made the pra\'er before the funeral procession started 
from the White House, and deli\'ered the final address at 
Springfield, Illinois, when the bod\- of the murdered 
Presi(.lent was placed in the tmnb. 

P)Liring his visit to P^nglaiid in 1 863, he effecti\ely ad- 
vocated the side of the United States Go\-ernment in the 
Ci\'il War, his abilities as an orator bringing wide recog- 
nition tc) the justice of the cause. 

These are by no means all the acti\e labors of Bishop 
Simpson, but thrc.uigh them all he ne\er neglected his 
duties as bishop and preacher of the Gospel, and no man 
during his time did niiire for the advancement of the 
Church. As an authoi', his works include "A Hundred 
Years of Methodism" and " Lectures on Preaching." 
The latter were delivered before the students of Yale 
College in 1882 and 18S3. Bishop Simpson died in 
Philadelphia, June I", 1884. 



158 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




REV. JAMES DeWOLF PERRY, D.D. 

Bristol, Rhode Isl.md, was the hiithid.icc nf the Rev. 
Dr. PciT}', and the dale iA his birth was December 22, 
1839. His ancestors on the ninther's side were Revo- 
kitiiinary soklieis of note and nienibers of the earl\- 
Congress, and his paternal ancestors were persons of 
mark in the navy in the War of 1812 and in the later 
histor\- of this countr\-. 

Dr. Terry's earl\' education was received in the sclioois 
(.)t his iiatixe town, .uul he entered Brown University, 
which has long lieen the honoi" of Pro\ idence, Rhode 
Island. lie graduated in I S60 with the degree of A.M., 
receiving the third honor of his class, Ijcing the Greek 
oration. Ills classmates chose him president, and the 
University officers made him a member of the Phi IVta 
Ka])pa Society. He studied theology in the Berkeley 
Divinit}- School, at Middletown, Connecticut, for a time, 
but withdrew to coniluct a school in Bristol. After Ijeing 
ordained a deacon in the Protectant PIpiscopal Church, 
he became the assi.stant to Bishop Clark, who w.is at 



that time rector of Grace Church, Pro\-idence, Rhode 
Island. At the end of the following \'ear he was made 
assistant to Rev. Dr. M. A. DeWolfe Howe, in .St. Luke'.s 
Church, Phil.idelphia. P)r. Howe is now Bishop of the 
diocese of Central Penns_\-lvania. While in this post 
Dr. Perry studied in tiie Philadelphia Di\-inity School, 
graduating in 1864, and becoming associate rector of 
-St. Paul's Church, North Providence, Rhode Island. 
The Rev. Dr. George Taft was the venerable rector of 
this parish, ha\ing served it over fifty years, and needing 
aid in his sacred work. 

In 1866 Dr. Perr\' entered on the rectorship of Calvary 
Church, Germantown, \\here he has since labored for 
that palish and for the Church in the cit\- and diocese. 
In 1888 he declined an appointment to the Professorship 
of Homiletics and Pastoral Care in the Philadelphia Di- 
vinit)' School. He was elected the first President of the 
Convocation of Germantown, which honorable office he 
has worthil)- held since 1SS5. 

In 1887, Dr. Perry was elected a member of the .Stand- 
ing Conmiittee of the Diocese, ami has annually been 
re-elected since that time. He was a delegate to the 
General Convention in Baltimore in 1892. and has been 
a memlier of the Missionary Coimcil since 1889. P'or 
several years he has been President of the Midnight 
Mission of Philadelphia. 

Dr. Perry has been one of the Overseers of the Phila- 
delphia Divinity School foi- a number of years. He is 
a Trustee of the Bishop White Pra}-er-Book Society, of 
the Ai-lvancement .Societ)', and of the Philadelphia City 
Mission. He is also interested in the Church Unit\- So- 
ciet\-, and has been instrumental in securing conferences 
in Philadelphia and elsewhere to promote its holy and 
Christlike object. Clerg\-men of \'arious denominations 
have met and conferred to promote greater unity among 
Christian chu relies. 

Dr. Perr\- introduceil into the diocese of Penns\-l\'ania 
the work of "The Girls' P'riendly Society" in iS.Si, and 
he is still the chaplain of the diocesan organization. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



159 



REV. SAMUHL D. McCONNF.I.L. 

The Rkv. Samuel D. McConnei.l was hmn in West- 
moreland County, Pcnns\'l\'ania, in 1845. llis lather was 
an extensi\-e farmer and land-iiwner in that count}-. Dr. 
McConnell spent his youth on the f.irm, LjniiiL; ti> the 
district scliool, winters, and workiiiLf with the men in tlie 
summer. It was a stuid)-, Scuteh-Iiish ccinuiiunit)', 
where the pCDple wei'c dilii^cnt rcatlers antl close thinkers. 
The}- took lile sobcrK' but n()t hardly. It was a type of 
that Ljood, yeoman's life, which, more is the pit\', seems 
to Iru'e almost entii'el)' disappeared. The bo\' was fitted 
for colleije, at Eldersridgc Acatlemy, under the manaije- 
ment of that remarkable educator, 1 )r. .\le.\,nuler Donald- 
son. While fittin;4 for coUeije, like thousands of other 
N'ouths of his time, he was not able to resist tile mai'tial 
fever which w.is e|)i(leniic, and enlisted fir the war. In 
1865 he i-elLiiiieil ai;ain ,ind took up the thre.id of his 
academic education, ami enteied Jefferson L'olleLje in 
1866, being' admitted to the Junior class. He i;raduated 
in the class of 1868, and in the autumn of the .same year 
entered the Junior class in Princeton '1 heologic.d .Semi- 
nary. After two )'ears sj)ent in pre])aration fir the Pres- 
byterian ministry, he foUciwetl a con\'iction which hail 
been long' growing iii his nu'nd, antl becanie a c.mdidate 
for orders in the Protest, mt Iqiiscupal Church. The law 
of that Cluu'ch requiies that one must be a member of it 
at least a year before he can be ord.iined to its ministry. 
Dr. McConnell was neither able nor willing to Ije idle for 
a \'ear. Looking about f->r sornething to which he could 
turn his hand, he met a frientl who was a rejjorter on the 
Pittsburg Rviuiiig Mail. lie weiit to the office of that 
paper and asked for something to do, and \sas at once 
gi\'en the task of examining and putting in shape for 
pririting the long telegrams which were pouring into the 
office, dail)-, from the P'ranco-German W<u', and which 
telegrams were couched in bad English and still worse 
German and French. Little by little other tluties were 
put into his h.uuls, until he became to all piacticd [pur- 
poses the editor of the paper. 

In June, 1872, he was ordained priest by the Bishop 
of Pittsljurg. h"or two years he did mission, iry work in 
Erie and lu'ie Count)- and in the oil regions of Peiuisj-l- 
vania, ami then becanie the rector of Holy Trinity 
Church, Middletown, Connecticut. This is the Cathedral 
Parish of that diocese, and also contains the Divinity 
School. It was a f )rmitlal)le task fir ,'i m.ui of thirty to 
assume the pi. ice of leader ami teacher in such <i com- 
nuniity. Dr. JMcConnell's strong personalit)- ami great 
gifts as a preacher, as well as a man of affairs, soon vin- 
dicated the wisdom of his selection for the important 
post. 




In the sp;ing of 1882 he accepted an election to the 
rectorship of ,St. Stephen's Church, Philadelphia. He 
was almost at once I'ccognizeil ,is a new f irce in the cit\'. 
riieie is prohahl}' no other m.ui in the comnumits' whose 
influence has been more widely and ileeply felt during 
the last ten _\-e,irs. h'or tw (.Le yeais his cluu'ch has been 
crowded at exery service b_\' the niijst thoughtful ami 
earnest-niimled men .md wduien in Philadelphia. With- 
out being in an\" sense an oiator, he possesses to a 
remarkable degree the [lower to make people listen to 
what he has to sa}', and to impress them by it, even in 
spite of them.seKes. He li.is always been outspoken on 
the siile of reasonableness in religion and lighteousness 
of life. In the councils of his Church he has always 
been prominent and intlueiiti.d, though selilom holding 
an)- of its offices. He has been acti\e in all efforts for 
municipal betterment, being now one of the council of 
the " Municipal League," as he was firineil)- of the 
" Committee of Pif't)-." 

In ecclesiastical circles he is probabl)- as well known 
b)' his wi-iiings as b\- his wonls and ileeds. His" Histor)- 
of the American Lpiscop.d Church" has gone into fi\e 
editions in the L'nited .States and three in Englanil. 
His " .Sons of (',od" and "Sermon .Stuff" together with 
nian\' sm.dler public, itions, ha\e made his name fimili.ir 
and his intluence felt b)- thousands. 

He is tlean of the North-east Con\'ocation of Phil.ulel- 
phia, president of the Contemporar)- Clul), chaplain of 
the I-^irst Regiment and of the \'eleran Corps, a member 
of the Penns\-l\'ania Historical .Societ)-, of the .Sons of 
the Revolution, and an honorary member of the Rov'al 
X'ictoria Institute of Great Pritain. 



i6o 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




RHV. JOSEPH N. BI.ANCHARl). 

The Rev. Jusei'II N. liLAXciiAKn was bdin in Alban\-, 
New York, July i, I S49. He studied for college at the 
Albany Classical Institute and went to Amherst College, 
Amherst, Massachusetts, where he was graduated in 
1S71. 1 lis theological training was accjuired under Bishop 
Williams, at the Berkele\- Divinity School, Middletown, 
Connecticut, where he was graduated in 1871. He was 
ordained deacon b\- l^ishop Doane, at All Saints' Cathe- 
dral Chapel, Alban_\', Trinit_\- Sunda_\-, May 31, 1S74, anil 
priest b\- the ScUiie bishop, the second Sunda)- in Lent, 
I'ebruar)- 24, 1N75. From Jul}-, 1874, until October 17, 
1S75, he was in charge of St. Paul's Mission, Greenwich, 
Washington Count}-, New York, antl was its first rector 
from Januar}- i, 1875. On Nmember i, 1S75, he became 
rector of St. James's Church, P'ordham, a suburb of New 
York Cit}-. He continued here until April, 1885, about 
nine and a half years. In that time the number of com- 
municants increased from ninet}--t\vo to one hundred and 
se\ent\'-fi\-e, and a beautiful rector\- was built at a cost 



of near!}' $13,000. On Ma}- i, 1885, he became rector 
of St. John's Church, Detroit, Alichigan, succeeding 
Bishop Worthington, of Nebraska. Uniier his charge the 
number of communicants increased from nine iumdred 
to over twehe hundred, and the a\-erage contributions 
for the five }-ears of his charge were $36,000. A large 
and convenient parish buililing w.rs built antl furnished at 
a cost of 540,000. Mr. Blanchard was a member of the 
Standing Committee of the Diocese of Michigan from 
1885 to 1890, and a delegate to the General Convention 
of the Church from Michigan in 1886 and 1889. He was 
elected President of the Detroit Convocation in 1889. 
He recei\-ed a number of \otes for bishop as a successor 
to the late Bishop Harris, and was also balloted for in 
the Diocese of Ohio in 1889. He delivered the annual 
commencement address before the Detroit College of 
Medicine in 1890. In Ala}-, 1890, he was calleil to St. 
James's Church, Philatleli)hia, as rector, to succeed tlie 
present Bishop of California. He came to Philadelphia, 
where he still resitles, in October, 1890. St. James's 
Church is one of the strongest parishes in the Episcopal 
Church in the country and has fully maintained its high 
rank untler the present rector. In the three years and a 
half of his charge the number of communicants has in- 
creased from fi\'e hundred and eighty to seven hundred 
and fift}-. The Henr}- J. Morton Guild House, begun 
under Dr. Nichols, has been completed at a cost of 
560,000 to 570,000. A beautiful memorial spire, one of 
the finest in the cit}-, rising to a height of one hundred 
and fift}--si.K feet, with a chime of ten bells, has been 
erected. The churcli maintains four services each Sun- 
da}-, two of w liich are free, and two each da}-. It is open 
dail}- for prixate pra\-er, has two assistants, and carries on 
a large and \igorous work among all classes of people. 
Mr. Blanchard was a delegate to the General Convention 
of 1892 from Penns}-I\ania, and preached the baccalau- 
reate sermon before the University of Pennsylvania in 
1892. The parish has under its care the church, the 
Sunday-school building, guild house, rectory, and indus- 
trial school. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



i6i 



REV. HENRY C. McCOOK. D.D. 

Henkv CiiKisTorHER AIcCooK was boin in \c\v Lis- 
bon, Ohio, Jul}- 3, 1S37. His father. Dr. Jdhn McCook, 
was a nati\'e of IVnnsx'Uania, of Scotcli-Irish ancestry, 
while his mother, Catharine Julia Sheldon, was of Puritan 
origin, descending from Isaac Sheldon, one of the early 
settlei's of Massachusetts. Two of his brothers were 
gcneials in the Civil War, one a commander in the na\'_\', 
and one is a jjrofessor at Hartford. 

Dr. McCook was educated in the public schools of 
New Lisbon, learned the printer's trade, and in 1859 
graduated at Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Pennsyl- 
vania. After some experience in teaching school, he en- 
tered the Western Theological Seminar}-, AUeghan}-, to 
prepare himself for the ministry, and in 1861 went to 
Clinton. Illinois, to spend the sumniei' in preaching. 
While there, he assisted in organizing the I<"ort}--first 
Regiment of Illinois X'olunteei's, in which he recei\^ed 
the commission of first lieutenant. He served subse- 
quent!}- in the regiment as chaplain, but left the ser\ice 
in 1862 to resume his pastoral duties in Clinton, and after- 
wards became a city missionary in St. Louis. There he 
continued until November, 1869, when he was called tci 
his present charge, that of the Tabernacle Presb}-terian 
Church, Philadelphia. 

During the earlier \-ears of Dr. McCook's pastoral 
. . . ' . . 

duties in Philadelphia his church was situated on Broad 

Street at Penn Siiuare. But the propert}' changes inci- I 
dent to the building of the Cit}- Hall at this localit}- ' 
induced him to seek a new localit}- in \\'est Philadelphia, 
w-here onl}- a few of his congregation followed him, but 
where he in time gained a new antl influential congrega- } 
tion, and was enabled to buikl his present church at the 
corner of Thirty-se\-enth and Chestnut Streets, and here, 
under the careful and intelligent super\ision of the pas- 
tor, a magnificent church edifice grew up, which is among 
the largest, and is regarded as one of the most beautiful 
in the cit}-, w-hile its Gotiiic sanctuar}- is considered by 
man}- the most beautiful in the world. In addition to his 
pastoral duties. Dr. McCook has taken an acti\-e interest 
in the philanthropic w-ork of the cit}-, having been one of 
the founders of the Society to Protect Children from 
Cruelty, and an earnest advocate f u- the oppressed and 
suffering, young and old alike. The first suggestion and 
advocacy of the movement that resulted in the estab- 
lishment of the noble Presb}-terian Hospital came from 
him. Aside from philanthrcipic labors, he has taken a 
living interest in religious affairs, having had much to 
do with the development of Sunda}'-school work, par- 
ticularly in preparing the first series of " Westminster 
Sunday-school Lessons." He served as a member of 
the Committee on Hall and Decoration for the great Pan- 
Presbyterian Council of 1S80, and aided in devising the 
magnificent ecclesiastical decorations which co\-ered all 
21 




the \-acant spaces in the hall, and attracted such fiattering 
comments from all those assembled. 

In addition to Dr. McCook's religious historv, there is 
a literar.}- and scientific one of much interest. He has all 
his life been connected with literature, as editorial writer, 
correspondent, etc., and is the author of se\eral well- 
known religious books, including " The Teacher's Com- 
mentar}- on the Life of Christ," "The Women I'riends 
of Jesus," " The Gospel in Nature," and " Lcclesiastical 
h'mblems." It is, how-e\-er, as a naturalist that he is most 
widel}- known, ha\ing long maile a special stud}' of 
American ants and spiders, with particular attention to 
their habits and life history. In this field of investigation 
he is classed among the leading authorities of the world. 
He has ])ublished several \-aluable works on this subiect, 
inclutling "A Natural Histor}- of the Agricultural Ants 
of Te.xas," " The Hone}- and Occident Ants," and 
" American .Spiders and their .Spinning Work," the last 
being a largel}- exhaustive work on its special subject. 
His popular work on insects, " The Tenants of an Old 
P^arm," has passed through a number of editions, and has 
stimulated main- to the stud}^ of science. In addition, 
he has published man}- papers in the Proceedings of the 
Acadeni}- of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, of which 
institutiiin he has long been vice-president. He has 
placed in the museum of this institution an unique col- 
lection of insect and spider architecture, which has no 
equal, if aii}- ri\-al, among the scientific institutions of 
America and Europe. He has also made a collection, of 
much \-alue, of heraldic material, particularly of ecclesi- 
astical, educational, and institutional seals. Dr. McCook 
is chaplain of the Loyal Legion, Penns}-lvania Com- 
mander}^ and was one of the officiating chaplains at the 
dedication, in 1892, of the World's Columbian E.xpositidn, 
in Chicago. 



i6: 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JOHN W. HORNBY. 

John W'ein F(ikxev, tlic founder of the Press, was 
born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, September 20, 1817. 
Losin<^ liis father in chililhcicid, earl_\- \'(nith dex'uKed 
upon him the support of a widowetl mother. Tims de- 
prived of the advantages of a higlier education, wliat tlie 
uni\ersit)' couki not give lie won b\' liis mental abih't}- 
and perseverance, and became a student of rare gifts and 
accomplishments. Attracted towards literature he en- 
tered a printing-office, and was made the editor of the 
Laucastir Jouinal before he came to manhood. As an 
editor, he was a Democrat of the Jackson school. Mr. 
Buchanan, then Senator, and afterwards President, was 
his tciwnsman, autl the \'c)ung enthusiast tledicatetl his 
life to that statesman's fortunes. 

F"orney, ha\'ing served his periotl of iircibatinn in Lan- 
caster, began his life-work in Philadelphia, in the twenty- 
eighth year of his age, as the editor of the Pciuisylvanian, 
a strenuous Democratic journal, at ime time under the 
control of James Gordon ]?ennett. During the six years' 
editorship of the Pennsylvaniaii, he won a national repu- 
tation as among the ablest and nii.ist intrepid of /\merican 
journalists. He was likewise a leader in practical politics, 
and was elected at the age of thirt_\--three to be Clerk of 
the National House of Representati\es, a rare honor for 
so young a man. He served the House during a troub- 
lous time, in which sectional feeling ran high. There 
was the prolonged struggle over the election of Hanks as 
Speaker, a political contest that history will record as 
the first battle and the first Northern \ ictor\- of the Civil 
War. Fornc)' during this time was acting Speaker, dis- 
charging the delicate duties of that office with dignity 
and ability. I'or weeks he stood between two turbulent 
factions, winning in the end the commendations of both 
for his inflexible imjiartiality. 



The advent of Banks as Speaker and the Republican 
ascendancy in the House withdrew Forney from public 
life. He became the editor of the Washington I'nioit 
and the confidential friend of President Pierce. He 
voiced and largely shaped the policy of the administra- 
tion with consummate skill. As the canvass of 1856 
drew nigh, he resigned from the Union, and returned to 
PennsyKania to direct the political fortunes of Buchanan, 
then Minister to p;ngland,and candidate for the succession 
to Pierce. He ilid this in response to what he deemed a 
call of duty from his State, but it was a sore trial, as it 
necessaril}' involved the severance of his relations with 
Pierce, to whom he was bound b_\- the strongest ties of 
personal affection. Through his efforts Buchanan was 
nominated. He directed the Democratic campaign in 
Pennsylvania as Chairman of the Campaign Committee, 
showing consummate executive capacit)'. To him more 
than to an\' other human agenc\" the election of Bu- 
chanan was due. 

On August I, 1857, P'orne}' foimded the ri\ss,\\\ which 
he ga\-e a warm support to the Ikichanan administration 
until the Lecompton controversy super\-ened. This was 
an issue between sla\'er_\' and freedom. P'orne_\- took 
sides w ith Douglas, Hickman, and other Democrats w ho 
believed in freedom. A stupendous contest ensued, in 
which he was easily the leader. By his eloquence, energ)^ 
j and genius he rallied the free Democratic sentiment of 
the North into s\-mpatln' with the Union. He was re- 
elected Clerk of the House in I 859, and elected Secretary 
of the Senate in 1861, having now changed his political 
\'iews and become a Republican. In the latter year he 
founded the Washington Chronicle, and during the war 
sustained confidential rehitions with Lincoln. For man)' 
years he directed the Chronicle as well as the Press. Re- 
tiring from the former journal in 1870, he sold out his 
interest in the latter in 1877, when he withdrew fri_)m ac- 
tive political journalism. In 187S he founded a weekly 
journal called Progress, on the plan of the Saturday' Re- 
vicio. This he edited until his death, December 9, 1881, 
when it passed under the editorial care of his son. 

Foi-ne\- wrote many essa\-s and addresses, and was 
the authi.ir of several works. His anecdotes of public 
men had a large sale. His " Letters from luirope," "A 
Centennial Commission Abroad," " New Nobility," and 
" The Life of Hancock," have a place in American litera- 
ture. 

F"orney, as we have said, was a gentleman of rare gifts, 
an elotjuent sjieaker, anil a graceful and cogent writer. 
He was a leatler in politics, but his great fame was that 
of an editor. P^or twenty \-ears he dominated the 
journalism of Pennsyh-ania. He was the first of his 
calling to teach good will and good fellowship to the 
press, the now generally accepted lessons of courtesy and 
candor. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPIIIA. 



163 



T. MORRIS I'HROT. 

T. M()RKi> J'kuo'I', the s(in of l-'i-ancis ami I''.li/.al)cth 
Morris Perot, was born in Philadclphi,!, Ma)- S, 1.S28. 
He is tlcsccntled iVoni a laniih- of considerable noti' in 
the history of the city. Anthini)- Mori'is, his maternal 
ancestor, came to Pennsylvania with William Penn in 
1682, and in 1687 establishetl a brewei'y antl malt-honse 
in Phikulelphia, which (as a malt nianiif ictory ) is still in 
existence, and has the maiked lioiioi- of bein;^ the oldest 
liouse in any line of birsiness in the United States. In 
fact, it is donbtful if there is another business house in 
the world that has for o\'er two hundred }'ears continued 
in the same line, and been carrietl on uninteriuptedly 
by the same fmiily. Mi'. Peiot, the piesent heai.1 of the 
house, represents these\enth L;ener,ition. 

The Perots descend from a fimily of ]*"iench IIuLiue- 
nots, who have a still more interestiiiL; history. They 
fled from l-'rance in 16S5, miL;ratinL; to New Rochelle, 
New \'ork, and fin, illy settling; in Philadelphia in 1781. 
History tells us that, about the time of the Massacre of 
St. 15artholome\\ , James Perot, one of their ancestors, 
was, with nineteen others, contlemned to twenty-one 
daj's' imprisonment in sepaiate cells, without lood y\\ 
water, the dom-s ot each cell l)ein;_;' walled up. At the 
end of twenty-one days the walls were taken tlown, and 
James Perot alone was fnund to be ali\'e. In his case it 
happened that a chicken had ukuIc lua- nest in the dee[) 
recess of the window of his cell, and daily laid an clJi;', 
which he obtained b_\' reachiuLj throuL;h the bars. The 
li(|uiil and solid nourishment of this dail\' cl^lj sufficed 
to keep the prisoner ali\'e. The ci^^y and chicken form 
to-day an interesting feature of tlie coat-of-arms of the 
famil}-. 

Mr. Perot, after i:;ainin_Lj a general education, entered 
the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, from which he 
graduated in 1849, and on Januaiy I, 185 I, entered into 
the wholesale drug business. In 1852, l-xlward 1 1, ( )gden, 
his brother-in-law, was admitted to partnership with him, 
the firm name becoming T. Morris I'erot iS; Company. 
They continued in this l.)usincss until 1S70, when they 
entered into partnership with P'rancis Perot, the father 
of the subject of our sketch, in the malting business, 
at Nos. 310 to 320 \'ine Street. In 1819 a steam-engine 
was built for the firm, which is believed to be the oldest 
engine in the world. About 1842 the firm discontinuetl 
brewing, ami the business has since been confined to 
malting. Soon after Mr. Perot entered the firm, it as- 
sumed the name of I'rancis Perot's Sons, and in 1S87, 
two centuries after the foundation of the business, it was 
organized as a joint-stock compan\-, under the name of 
the Francis Perot's Sons JMalting Compan\'. 

In 1861, Mr. Perot was elected President (if the Mer- 
cantile Library Conipau)', and still continues at its head. 
Its stock of books has increased since then fiom twent\'- 




three thousand to one hundred and sevent)'-one thou- 
sand Milimies. P'or ox'cr thirty years he occupied the 
position of President of the Woman's Medical College, 
anil neaily e\-ery graduate of that college has his sig- 
natm'e up(jn her (liiilnma. h"oi' as long a period he has 
been (111 the lioard of Trustees of the College of Phar- 
mac_\-, aiul for man)- )-e.irs its chairman. In atklition, 
he occupies positions as president, treasurer, and director 
of \-arious benevolent institutions, including the Northern 
SoLip Societ)-, the Maternit)- Hospital, the Society for 
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Friends' 
Charity Fuel Association, ami others. Since the organi- 
zati(in of the Societ)- for the Prevention of Cruelt)- to 
Children, Mr. Perot has been actively connected with 
its work, and is now its Presitleiit. He is also Presi- 
dent of the .Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to 
Children and of Animals, of Oswego, New York. He 
has been connected with several large financial insti- 
tutions, and still takes a strong interest, as director, 
in the United Securitv' Compau)-. He is also President 
of the People's Gaslight Compau)- of Jersc)- City, New 
Jerse)'. 

Mr. Perot is first \-ice-president of the Pliiladelj^liia 
Board of Trade, and has been a member of the E!xecu- 
tive Council of that bo(.l)- for o\er thirt)- \-ears. He has 
been vcr)- active!)- engaged for man)- \-ears in the effort 
to im]irove our local affairs. He was chairman of tiie 
Fxecutive Conunittee of the Municipal Ref(.irm Associa- 
tion, ,ui organization whicli brought from obscuritj- the 
name of Governor Robert K. Patti.son, whom it put up 
and elected City Controller. This association was suc- 
ceeded b)- the Committee of One Hundred, of which Mr. 
Perot remained a member during its continuance, and 
then joined with others in forming the Municipal As.socia- 
tion. He still continues an .ictive member of the I'^xecu- 
tive Committee of that bodv. 



164 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




EDWARD D. COPE. 

EinvAKD Dri.nkek Cope is a grandson of Thomas P. 
Cope, whose biography we give elsewliere, and was born 
in Philadclpin'a, Jul)- 28, I S40. He reccixed liis prelim- 
inary eikication in pri\-ate schools of the cit)-, and after- 
wards studied in the Medical Department of the Univer- 
sit\' <if Pennsylvania, but ditl net graduate, his love of 
biological science having so greatly de\-eloped that he 
decided to make its study his life work. His first scien- 
tific paper — a description nf the bony structure of the 
mouth of venomous snakes — was published at the early 
age of nineteen. It was followed by others of much 
scientific value, through which the )oung author became 
early recognized as a pi'omising addition to the contrib- 
utors to natural science. E'rom that time to this he has 
been steadily engaged in biological study, particular!)' in 
the field of \-ertebrate palsontolog)-, in which he has 
done a quantity of accurate and imjiortant work which 
leaves him to-day almost without a rival in this particu- 
lar branch of science, either in y\mcrica or E'.urope. In 
adtlition to his studies of material, he has pro\ed himself 
a thinker of unusual scope and power, and shares with 
Darwin, Spencer, and other leading thinkers, the credit 
of developing the great theory of evolution. 

Professor Cope's ,ibilit\- was early recognized in his 
election to membership in many learned societies at 
home and abroad, including the United States National 
Academy of Science, the American Philosophical Society, 
the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, and 
other American institutions; the Royal Academy of Sci- 
ences of Ba\-aria, the Geological and Zoological Societies 
of London, and the Geological Society of France. He 
has been the recipient of the Bigsby gold medal of the 
Geological Society of London for his paljeontological 
works, and of the Hayden gold medal of the Academy 



of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia for his labors in 
geology. He is Ph.D. of Heidelberg. P'or years he 
occupied the chair of Natural History in IIa\erford Col- 
lege, Penns\'lvania, and since 1890 has been connected 
with the Uni\'ersity of Pennsyh-ania, first as Professor of 
Geology and Mineralogy, and since 1893 as Professor of 
Zoology and Comparative Anatomy. It may be briefly 
said here that there is no man in America better fitted to 
fill these important chairs. 

His explorations have been numerous and valuable. 
He served as geologist and palaeontologist in the United 
States Geological and Geographical Survey west of the 
One Hundredth Meridian, under Captain G. M. Wheeler, 
and as palaeontologist in the Lhiited States Geoh.igical 
Survey of the Territories, under Dr. F. V. Ha\-den. 
From 1 8/ I to 1 88 1 scarceK- a j'ear passed without find- 
ing him in some part of the rich fossiliferous regions of 
the west, rapidly adding to his collection of vertebrate 
remains. In addition to his personal labors, he sent out 
numerous expeditions at his own expense, whose explor- 
atitjns were not confined to this country, but extended 
to Brazil and Peru, in .South America. His most recent 
work in this direction was in connection with the Geo- 
logical Survey of Texas in 1892, and an exjjloration of 
South Dakota and other States in 1893. 

The amount of material gathered by Professor Cope 
during these )'ears has been enormous in extent and in- 
valuable in character. It composes one of the largest 
and most varied collections of vertebrate fossils in ex- 
istence. In his numerous works and papers he has 
described more than one thousand species of extinct 
vertebrata, many of which represent families and orders 
previousl)- unknown. These works include " S}'nopsis of 
the Extinct Batrachia and Reptilia of North America" 
( 1 869-7 1 ) i " '^'1 the Vertebrata of the Cretaceous I'orma- 
tion of the \\'est" (1875); "On the Vertebrate Pala-on- 
tology of New Mexico" (1877); "On the Vertebrata of 
the Tertiary Formation of the West" (1884); and "The 
Batrachi.i of North iVmerica" (1889). In addition to 
these great works, he has published a multitude of scien- 
tific papers in the Proccfdiugs of x^arious scientific soci- 
eties, a number of which are comprised in "The Origin 
of the Fittest," issued in 1887, and for man}- \-ears has 
edited and published the Aincricaii Naturalist. 

Many of these papers are devoted to the evolutionary 
theory, among them being "On the (Origin of Genera" 
(1868) ; " Method of Creation of Organic Types" (187 1) ; 
"Consciousness in Evolution" (1S75); "The Evidences 
of E\'olution in the History of the E^.xtinct Mammalia" 
(1883). These are but a few titles selected out of man\-, 
in which Professor Cope has developed numerous scien- 
tific generalizations, some of them of leading importance. 
He is an earnest advocate of what is known as the Neo- 
Lamarckian hypothesis of evolution. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



165 



JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM. 

John A. Wii:i)I':r>iii:im was horn in Philadelphia in the 
\-car 1842. He oljtaincil his education in the pubhc 
schools of the cit)-, his school life endinL; in the Central 
High School, from whicli he graduated in 1S57. Shortly- 
after graduating, he began his business life in a tlr\--goods 
commission establishment. Mr. W'iedersheim continued 
ill this line of business till iSTu, but on the outbreak of 
the war, being then nineteen \-ears of age, he joinetl the 
Rcscr\-e Brigade, from the h'u'st Regiment, of which the 
One Hundred and Xineteeiith Regiment of Pennsy-Ka- 
nia Volunteers was mainly officered. Mr. Wicdersheim 
enlisted in Comp.nu' V of this regiment, and continued 
in it during nearly- tlie three years of its gallant ser\'ice 
with the .Sixth Corps, Arm_\- of the Potomac. Near the 
end of his term of service he received an appointment 
in the office of the Secretary of War, at Washington, 
D.C., which position he retained until the termination 
of his periixl of enlistment, when he resigned to accept 
a place in the office of the Scientific Aiitcricaii, of New 
York. 

After the close of the war. Air. W'iedersheim, ha\ing 
decided to adopt the legal profession, entered upon the 
stud}- of law at Columbian College, Washington, D.C, 
and in 1867, having been admitted to the Philadelphia 
bar, began practice in this cit\-, choosing the law of pat- 
ents as his special line of legal business. Since that date 
he has continued to ser\e as a patent attorne)-, and thou- 
.sands of patents, trade marks, and co[)_\-rights have been 
pr(.)Cured through his agency. In addition, he has pre- 
pared numerous expert opinions as to the scope and 1 
validity of patents, and continues acti\-el}- employed in 
the practice of this complicated branch of the legal pro- 
fession. 

Mr. Wiedersheim's main office is located in the Record 
]5uililing, 919 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, while a 
branch office at 91 S I' Street, Washington, gives him 
special opportunities to expedite his large business and 
attentl to the needs of his clients w ithout midue expen- 
diture of time and money. He is an acknowledged ex- 
pert in this line of s[iecial practice, and has in his office 




full reports of patents from the time the first was granted, 
in 1790, to the present day. 

He is an active member of \arious societies and orders, 
and is Past Commander of the George G. Meade Post, 
No. I, Grand .\rm}- of the Re|)ublic, Department of 
Penns\-lvania ; Past Aide-de-Camp on the staff of Gen- 
eral Fairfield ; and at present Major of Encampment 
No. y^, Phiion \'eteran Legion. As an eifficer of his 
Grand Army Post, Mr. Wiedersheim assisted at tlie 
funeral services of General U. S. Grant at Rixerside, 
New York, in 1885, reciting the third part of the ritual, 
and ending \\ith placing the Post bouiiuet on the remains 
of the illustrious dead. 

Mr. Wiedersheim is also a life member of the \'eter;ui 
Corps, P^irst Regiment of Infmtr_\-, National t'luard of 
Penns\-l\-ania, and of the Plorticultural .Society, I-"air- 
niount Park Art Association, and P'ranklin Institute. 
He belongs to the Union Leagaie and the ( )rdei- of 
Sp.irt.i, and is an active member of Lodge No. 385, l-'ree 
and Accepted Masons. In addition, he is one of the 
Governors of the Powelton Club, West Philadelphia, 
and is a \-estryman of St. Andrew's Protestant I'4)iscoi:)al 
Church. 



i66 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




CLAYTON M.:M1c:HAHL. 

Cr.AVTdN McMiciiAia,, s(in nf the ilistini^uislutl j(uii- 
nalist, Morton McMichacl, whose l5ioL;ra[)liy \\c ha\'c 
elsewhere L;iven, was born in Philadelpliia, June 30, 
1844, and was educated at tlie best prix-ate schools the 
cit)' at that time afforded. At the time of the outbreak 
of the Civil War, in the sprint; of iSCn, he was not yet 
seventeen years of age, but, filled with patriotic fervor, 
he hastened to offer his services to the threatened l;"o\'- 
ernment, being among the first in his native cit\' to enlist 
as a volunteer in the armies of the Union. His youthful 
devotion to his countrj-, and the ability he tlisplaj^ed as 
a soldier were speedily rewarded w itii an a]5pointment to 
the rank of .second lieutenant in the regular army of 
the United States, and on the 5th of August, iSTii, he 
wa.s promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in the Ninth 
United States Infantry. This progress in promotion was 
extraordinary. Lieutenant McMichael was , it that time 
but one month more than se\'enteen \'ears of age, and, 
so far as is known, his rapid advancement was with- 
out precedent. It is believed that no other person has 
ever been commissionetl and pvoniotetl as an officer in 
the regular army of the United States at so youthful 
an age, and it is doubtful if the volunteer forces of the 
war can furnish many jjarallel instances. 

His advancement was merited. Lieutenant McMichael 
was a brave man and a good soldier, aiitl served with 
honorable distinction from the beginning to the close of 



the war. After a creditable career, first in commanding 
troops protecting the o\erland emigrant route from 
hostile Indians and afterwards on the frontier and else- 
where on the Pacific Coast, lie was transferred to active 
militar\- dut_\- in the East. His connection in the fiekl 
with the Ami)' of the Potomac began after the decisive 
battle of Gettysburg, he taking part in all the great battles 
subsequently fought by that arm\', including the terrible 
struggle of the Wilderness, the destructi\e combats of 
Grant's oxerland march upon Richmond, and the con- 
tests .attending the siege of Petersburg. At the close 
cf the war he resigned from the arm\', and retired to 
private life and to the pursuit of his father's profession 
in his native city. 

The North American, of which his fathei' had for 
years been editor and proprietor, was at that time, and 
still is, the oldest dail)- paper in America, anil one of the 
most respected and iunueiitial of Republican journals. 
Colonel McMichael joined his father in its editorship, 
and succeedetl him as editor a few \-ears before his 
death, which took place Januar_\' 6, 1879. In 1 89 1 he 
became its sole proprietor. Under his eilitorial charge, 
the North American retains its former standing as an 
abl\- edited aiul highly inlhiential exponent of Repub- 
lican princij)les, has gained a large circulation, and prom- 
ises long to maintain a standard suitable to its historical 
position as the oldest daih' paper in America. Its orig- 
inal issue as a daily paper, then knijwn as the (icncral 
Advertiser, was on the 21st of September, 17S4. 

In 1873 Mr. McMichael was appointed b)' Presitlent 
Grant one of the Commissioners to the International 
Exposition at Vienna. The useful work done by that 
Commission is indicated by the able report made by it 
to the United States government on its return. In 1882 
President Arthur appoiiiteil him to the post of Lhlited 
-States Marshal of the District of Columbia. This office 
he filled acceptably till the end of the administration, 
sending in his resignation to the new goNcrnment on 
the 4th of March, 1S85. It is complimentary to his 
efficiency as a public officer that Presitlent Cleveland 
declined to recei\e his resignation, and kept him in 
office till December 2, 1SS5, \\hen a successor was 
ap[)ointed. Since that tl.ite Colonel McMichael has 
dex'oted himself to his eilitorial duties, and has taken an 
active pait in all movements for the good of liis party 
and the aiKancemeiit of the interests of the city of 
Philadelphia. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



167 



GEORGR S. GRAHAM. 

Geokhe Scott Graham, Distiict Attumcy nf tlic 
County of Pliikulclphia, was born in I'hiladclphi.i, Sc|)- 
tcnibcr 13, 1850. His f.illicr, |,uni_s Graham, was of 
Irisli birth, but came to tliis country in carl_\- Hfc, anti 
cULjagcd in business in Thiladclphia as a carpet manu- 
facturer, and afterwards as a t^roccr. llis mother, Sarali 
J. Scott, was also born in Irehmd, and was a woman of 
superior character. He w.is educ. iti.d in the public 
schools of the city, continuiiiL;' his studies aftcrwartis 
under his brother, then in the L'ni\ersity of I'ennsyl- 
\ania. IIa\ini,^ decided on the stud_\' of the l,iw, he 
entered the office of Georye W. Deilrick", and subsc- 
qucntl)- that of John Roberts, his present Liw partner. 
He also took a course in the Law Dei)artment of the Uni- 
versit)' of PennsyKani.i, and was admittetl to the bar in 
1870. 

Mr. Graham's encri,r)- and activit)-, his fine mciit.d 
powers and wide knowledge of the law, and his ability as 
an orator, .soon trained him a profitable clienta^-e, which 
was added to from his wide circle of friends. He tuiaied 
his attention early in Ir's professional life to politics, and 
quickl)- made himself jirominent in this field, his marked 
talent as a public speaker rendeiiuL; him a \-.dualile aid 
in the ad\'ancemcnt of his part\', — the Re|)ublican. At 
that time new blood and wholesome \italit}- were sadl}- 
needed in the local ranks of the part}', and these qualities 
Mr. Graham aideil to infuse. His encrLjy antl enthusiasm 
carried him quick!)' to the front, and, after a bitterly con- 
tested struggle, he was electetl to Select Council by the 
independent element of his ward, ilefeating the ring w hich 
had long held the part}^ piiwerless in its doniinating 
grasp. 

As a Select Councilman, Mr. Giaham worketl tlili- 
gently and intelligent!)' for tlie good of tlie cit)', giving 
tlie closest attention to t!ie duties of the position. His 
full acquaintance witli public questicins, progressix'e views, 
and earnest spirit of I'efoi'ni enabled him to aid greatl)', 
both in committee and on the floor of the chamber, in 
the de\elopnient of iniprii\ed cit)' go\ ermnent. .\ read)' 
debater, clear in argument, and forcible as a s])eaker, his 
\'iews were abl)- and cogentl)' presented, and his influence 
alwa)'s felt for good. With these qualities, he rapidl)' 
gained prominence in the I'ouncil, .uul was made chair- 
man of the Connnittee on l>aw and a member of the 
I-lnance Committee, p(.isitions which addetl greatly to his 
power and influence in the chamber. 

In 1 .877 he was urgetl b)' his frieniis for the numina- 
tion for District Attornc)'. He was defeated, however, 
and a compromise candidate chosen, whom Mr. Graham 




generousl)- sui)i)orted, but who was tlefeated b)' the 
Democratic nominee. In 1880 the factional spirit in the 
ranks of the party, which had caused its former defeat, 
had in great part disappeared, and Mr. Graham's name 
was agaiii presented, and accepted as the unanimous 
choice of the part)' for the District Attorne)'ship. He 
was elected to the office by a large majorit)', being the 
)'oungest man ever chosen to that position in this cit)'. 
I<"rom that time to the present he has been re-elected 
at the end of every term of office, and, b)' reason of his 
faithful discharge of the duties of the position, lias on 
two occasions been made the joint nominee of the Demo- 
cratic and Republican parties. 

Mr. Gr,ih<ini was married in 1870 to Miss lunma M. 
l{llis, and has two children lising. He is a ]irominent 
member of the Masonic fraternit)-, and has been an officer 
in the Grand Lodge of the State for a number of years. 

I He is a member of the Union League, the Fi\'e O'Clock 
Club, and other organizations. In 1889, Lafayette Col- 
lege conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of 
Laws. As a law)'er he is well-read and sound in judg- 

^ ment, and lias placed himself in the fi'ont rank of the 
)'ounger members of the bar. He is attentive and faith- 
ful to his ofificial duties, and no man is held in higher 
esteem b)' the public. He has great reserx'c force, is 
vigorous in sustaining iiis position, and is always eloc|uent 
and persuasive in the advocacy of his \'iews. In private 
life he is domestic in his tastes, and is a model husband 
and father. He is an elder in the Presbyterian Church 
at Broad and U.vford Streets, in the .Sunda)'-school labors 

. of which he has taken active part as superintendent. 



1 68 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




COI.ONHI. GHORGH II. NORTH. 

Cor.dNia- (ii:iiK(;r; I Ii mi'iikiis Xdkrii was born June 
17, l.S4i,al Covcnlrv. ClicsUr Cmmty, IVniisyK^aiiia, but 
was Iji-ouL^ht to I'liihulclpliia by Iiis jjarciits while still an 
iiif.nit. lie is a grandson of Colnncl Caleb Xnrtli, who 
edDiinaiiiled the h^Ie\'enth Penns\-1\ ania Res,ninent, C^juti- 
nental I ,iiie, duiinjg the Re\-olutionar)' War ; and a son 
of (jeorge W. Xcnth, of Philadelphia, lie was educated 
in the schools of this eit\-, and in 1857 entered the 
bankinL;-house of C'harli-s ]'.mor\- & Company, on Third 
Street. On thr outbnak of the Ci\il War in 1861, Mr. 
North, nio\ed by the desire to aitl in the preservation of 
tile I'ninii which his i,n-aiKlfather had f(>UL,dit to establish, 
\()lLinteered his services for the suppression cif the Re- 
bellion, although not \\-t twenty years old, enlisting on 
.April 24, 1861, as a priwite in the Cdnnndiiwralth Artil- 
ler\. 

His company was statiiiind at I'mt I )(l.iwaie, w heie 
lie sersed until llie cud (jf his ihicc months' term of 
enlistment, returning h(inu; in .August, lie again entered 
the army as secnnd licutcn. nit nf the l'"(iurt(.Tnth I'cini- 
s\-lvania Caxalry, with whom he served till the close of 
the war, partici])ating in the campaigns of the .Army of 
the I'otomac and the .Slicnando.ili, and in those of West 
\'irgiiiia, and accom])aiiying (jeneral Sheridan in his 
famous ride from Winchester to Cellar Hill, one of the 
most striking and di'amatic incidents of the wai'. He was 
highly complimented by Geneials .\\erell, 'i'orbett, and 
others for gallant conduct on the fieM of battle, and was 
honorably discharged from the volunteer service on July 
31, 1865, being then captain of Comi)an)' K, b'ourteenth 
I'ennsyh'ania Cavalry. ' 

After the war, Ca])tain North was offered a [losition in 
the regular army, but was foi'ced to decline this honor 
from the demands of home (.luties, and retained to piivate 



life. In the fall of 1865 he was elected a member of the 
Philadelphia Stock I'^xchange, and has continued in this 
body in good standing ever since, being now one of its 
govcrnor.s. In November of that jear he entered into 
partnershi]) with H. Heber Bull, under the firm name of 
Bull & North. The firm conducted a successful business 
until December 2, 187 1, when Mr. Bull retired, and 
Colonel North's brother, William V. North, entered the 
firm, which now took the name of G. H. North & Com- 
pany. On October 18, 1870, Colonel North had married, 
his bride being Miss Hariiet J. Robbins, daughter of 
Charles Robbins, an iron merchant of this city. His 
famih- at present consists of a son and tliree daughters, 
one son lia\-ing died. He resides at Chestnut Hill, his 
residence being known by the suggestive title, " Our 
Home." 

In 1873 the firm again changed, Colonel Nortli'.s 
brother retiring and Mr. Craig Heberton entering, the 
title becoming Nm'th, Heberton & Compain". This firm 
wa.s dissoKed in 1878, and since then Colonel North has 
continued in business under the firm name of G. H. 
North & Company. His business career lias been a suc- 
cessful one, althoLigh ni.mv duties have called him fioni 
it, ]),uticulaiiy those in connection with the National 
(iuard of I'ennsyKania. He entered this organization 
after the wai' as adjutant of the Mrst Regiment of In- 
fanti'v, and h,is been pr(jnioteiI to each grade, gaining in 
1S70 the position of adjutant-general of the division, 
which he still holds, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, 
fm the staff of the division commander. General (ieorge 
R. Snowden. In coni])Ietion of the record of Colonel 
North's military career, it will suffice to state that he is a 
member of the niilitar_\" order kn(.>wn as the Loyal Legion, 
Pennsylvania Conimandeiy, Insignia 1 102 ; also of the 
Society of the Army of the Potomac ; of the Association 
of the Commonwealth iXrtiller}- of Penns^dvania ; of the 
Grand .\rm\- of the l\e|)ublic. Post No. 2, Philadelphia; 
f)f the .Societ}- of .Sons of the Revolution; Past Com- 
mander of the Veteran Corps, I'irst Infantr_\-, National 
Guard of IVnnsxh .uiia ; a niembei'of the United Service 
Club, of the Ai'niy and Navy Club of New York, etc. 

In atldition to these military organizations, Colonel 
Noith is a member of m.iii)- social clubs and orders. He 
has since 1 863 been an active worker in the Masonic 
order, and is a Past Master of Union Lodge, No. I2i. 
He was one of the organizers of the Art Association of 
the Masonic Temple, which has done so much to adorn 
that noblest temple of this ancient ordei'. He is a incm- 
bei' and one of the directors of the Union League, a 
nieiiiber of the oi'ganization of lo\-ers of music known 
as the Utopian Club, of the Bachelors' Barge Club, New 
York Club, and of se\-eral other organizations. Politi- 
call\' he is a Republican, and has clone much to assist 
his part)- by his means and innuence. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



169 



RT. Ri;\'. o/.l WILLIAM VVHITAKHK, n.l). 

\i.\\ L'.MiiAM) lias L;i\cii two hisliops lo the Diocese 
of I'cnnsylxani.i, as Hisliop Stc\-elis, tile wortlu' ])fede- 
ccssor of Bishop W'liitaker, was a nati\'c of ^Llille. 

The birtliphice of Hisliop W'hit.iker was Xew Salem, 
Massachusetts, atui the year of lii^ hiitli i S^o. 

I'ollow iui; the custom of man\' ol the stuidx' sons of 
New luiLjlaiKl, we tint! him at the earl\- aL;i: of sixteen 
tcachinq; a disti'ict school, and ])ursuinL;' this laudable em- 
])loymenl e\ei'\' uintt:r for ten \'ears, until he: L^raduated 
from Middlebury Colles^e, in Wrmniit. when-, mar the 
Gi'een Mountains, solitl instruction was s^iven to hard)' 
men |)repai'in;4 for life's earnest struLjL;Ie. 

The tutui'e bi-^Iioj) becuiie principal of North Rrook- 
field .Sclio( il, in Mass.ichusttts, w hiili jk isitimi he letained 
mitil In- entered the (leniM'.il 'rheoloL;ii:.il Semin,ir_\-, in 
New York city, in 1S60. 

Ills studies at New Salem Academy and Shelburne 
Falls Acadeni)-, Massachusetts, and ]5rattleboro Acad- 
emy, X'einiont, i)rt'ce(led his college coiu'se. 

The early experience in te.ichiiiL;' gave an impulse in 
after-years to his foundini; of a Diocesan School for 
Girls at Reno. Ne\ada, in 1S76. So the l-"astern inllu- 
ence blessed the West, and that new laiul has much 
reason to thank New h',nL;land for its pi'ospei'it)-. 

The bisho]) w.is admittc'd to the orilc-r of a deacon in 
Grace Cliuich, Hostnn, Massachustlts, 1863, liy the hands 
of l^ishop luistbuni. 

His ordination to the piiisthm id tuok place in St. 
Stephen's ('hapel, Hoston, slioitl}' aitci'wards, liishcip 
Ivastbuni again officiating. 

The young clerg_\-m,in went to Nevada a.s rector of 
St. lohn's parish, at Gold Hill. 

In lSr)3 he came back to the l'",ast, liecoming rector 
of St. Paul's t'huich, in luiglew nod, New Jersey. 

In 1867 he once more turiu-d his ste[is westward, and 
entered upon the rectorsliij) of .St. Taul's Church, in 
Virginia City, Nevada. 

In 1 868 the (jeneral Coiuention met in .St. John's 
Chapel, New York, anil tlu' rector of .St. I'aul's w.is 
elected Missionar\- I5isho]5 of Nevada and Arizona. 

He was consecratetl in St. George's Church, New 'S'ork, 
October 13, l 869, b_\- Bishops McIKaine, i loratio Totter, 
I'Lastburn, Odenheinier, antl J, C. Talbot. 

IIa\ing, b\- fiithfulness in the ser\ice of Christ, at- 




tained a good degree. Bishop Whitaker lal)ored to 
upbuikl the Church among the Western moimtains, 
until, in I 886, TennsyKania called him to assist Bislioj) 
.Ste\ens, whose health did not permit him to perform all 
the needed episcopal work. 

'The new l)i^ho|)'s lust coiuention address, in 1887, 
shows that 111- left a belox'ed flock and came hither in 
obiiliclice to the will of God. 

He was generously received and welcomed. He ad- 
mired the hei'oic endurance of Bishop Ste\'ens, and his 
faitlifulnes^^ in jierfoiining lu-avy duties in illness; and he 
has proveil himself a noble successor, consecrating all 
his powers to Christ, while clergy and laity and godlj' 
Women li,i\e aidetl his work. 

On October 29, 1886, Bishoj) Whitaker began his 
e|)iscopal work in St. Barnabas's Church, Kensington. 
I lis following abinidaut labors in a diocese full of in- 
stitutions needing supervision, in addition to mmierous 
churches, nia\' l)e traced back to the time that long 
\ears were de\'oted to teaching, and the hardening 
process of the mental muscles prepai'ed him to carr}' 
out the Sa\iour's command to make disciples or 
scholars in teaching those who ha\'e come under his 
spiritual caie. 

Keiiyon College gave l?ishop Whitaker the Doctorate 
in I)i\initv. 



22 



170 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




I.. CI.ARKH DAVIS. 

L. Ci.AKKE D.wis, maiKigiiii;- cditm- of the Public Ledger, 
was born on a farm on the site of the city of Sandusk}-, 
Ohio, September 23, 1835. ITis ancestors, several Ljener- 
ations back, were Welsh and .Sc(_itcli-Iri-.h. His parents 
were pioneers in ( )iii(), havin<j entered that country in 
a ConestoL^a \vaL;on while it was still inhabited b_\- the 
Indians. After his birth the fmiily nioxetl to llar\ard 
County, Maryland, where liis mother soon ])assetl away. 
The lad was only sixteen years okl wlien his father also 
died, leavinj^ him with two older brothers — both sub- 
se(]uently killed in the Rebellion — and one sister. 

Up to this time the family had applied itself to a^'ri- 
culture. The youngest son, however, was sent to tJie 
boardinL;"-school of Samuel Aaron, a noted Abolitionist 
at Norristown, I'ennsyKania, whose ileep scholarship 
strongly impressed him. Tiie foundation of a good 
general education being thus laid, the lad went to the 
Episcopal Academy in Philadelphia, from which he grad- 
uated in his twentieth year, being subsetjLienth' entered 
as a student in the law office of Thomas Balch. About 
this time he also began to assist in etliting the Legal 
Intelligencer, and subsequently to write leaders for the 
Morning Tunes. His associates on the Times included 
John Uiissell ^'oung, afterwarils Minister to China; 
l'"rank R. Stockton, the eminent autlior; John M. Car- 
son, now Washington correspondent of the Public L^cilgcr, 
and John 1). Stockton, who is remembei'ed b_\' old time 
newspaper men as one of the greatest geniuses of his 
day. Thus, studying law and doing a little con\ey- 
ancing, he continued to do desultory work in jour- 
nalism until about 1S70, when he became m.maging 
editor of the Philadclplua Inquirer. 

He remained connected \\ith the Inquirer for nineteen 
years, taking part as an editor in all the great iliscussions 



of the period, and occasionall)' employing his pen in 
other branches of literary work. On October 9, 1889, 
he se\ered his connection with this paper and accepted 
the position of associate editor on the Public Ledger, 
assisting in its reorganization, with ]Mr. Childs as j^ro- 
prietor and editor-in-chief In Se])tember, 1893, he be- 
came managing editor. The death of Mr. A. J. Drexel, 
one of the owners of the ledger, closely followed by 
that of Mr. Childs, occurred during his administration. 
Mr. Davis still continues editor of the Ledger under its 
•succeei-ling piibli-^her and editor, George W. C. Drexel. 

Mr. Davis is generall)- recognized as an exceptionally- 
fluent and graceful writer, liaving a rare command of 
words which are readil)' adai^ted to the clearest and 
most forcible expression of his thoughts. In his earlier 
career he wrote much for the magazines, particularly 
Harper's, the Atlantic, the C \nlury, Scribner s. l.ippin- 
cott's. Putnam's. Some of his special articles, including 
" A Modern Lettre de Cachet;' " A Modern State Trial," 
and " Public Libraries," were largely read and Cjuoted. 
I^'or Putnam's he wrote a no\-el calletl "The .Strantkxl 
Ship," which afteiwards appeared in book form and ran 
through several editions. In special work he frequently 
drifted from lighter literature to politics and .affairs of 
public concern, some of his articles resulting in agitations 
that brought about needed reforms, notably, in enacting 
legislation go\erning the insane in Pennsylvania. 

With him dramatic criticism has also been a study. 
His opinions of plays and players have been sought and 
highly \alued Ijy the greatest artists. His fondness for 
the drama has been ei[ualled onl_\- b\' his love of dramatic 
literature, of which, in histor}- and biography especially, 
he has one of the most complete collections in the 
countr}'. 

Mr. Davis is not much of a club man, his leisure time 
being spent in open air recreations and in fishing, of 
which he is very fontl. He is, however, a member of 
the Penn Club and a manager of the Forrest Home. He 
has held several honorary offices, having been, for in- 
stance, appointed by Governor Pattison on Commissions 
to revise the lunacy laws anil j)ro\ide for the insane, and 
as a State Connnissioner to the World's Vmv. Mr. 
Da\'is was also appointed by President Cleveland a 
member of the Assay Commission of 1894. 

Literature is a part of Mr. Davis's iiome. Rebecca 
Hardins Davis, to whom he was married in Wheeling, 
West Virginia, in March, 1863, is an authoress, and their 
three children are all gifted writers. The eldest, Richard 
Harding Da\is, has risen to great distinction as an author 
and as editor of Harper s IVceklr, and Charles Belmont 
Davis, who was given the name of his uncle Charles, — 
who was killed at the battle of Belmont, — is now repre- 
senting the United States government as Consul to 
I-'lorence, Italy. 



Jf.lA7:RS OF /'////,. ID/-L/V//,1. 



171 



RICHARD HaXRDING DAVIS. 

AmiiN(, the- )'iiiinL;cr litci'ary nun di" tliii cDuntiy, nnnc 
has ,itlainc(.l a niciiv rapid nv [ii-dini^iiiL; icpnlatinn than 
the snhji-ct of oin^ present sketcli, Ricliard 1 lanlini^ 
Daxis, wlin was born in I'liilaclelphia in 1864, and is 
now, at thirty years cif aL(e, classed amnnL;' tlie leading 
lltti:ratcurs of tlle United States. lie niav Ik; looked on 
as an author \iy he'redity, heiiiL;- the son of L. Clarke 
l)a\is, the editor of the Piihlic /.(di^cr, a sketch of whose 
life we have <(iven on page 170; and of Rrhecc.i Harding 
Davis, one of the most distinguished of tin- women 
authors of America. Thi- literary career of Mrs. 1 )a\-i.s 
is too well-known to call for more than ]iassing nu:ntion. 
She was horn at Wheeling, West Virginia, about 1840, 
married Mr. lJa\is in 186;;, and is the authoress of a 
number of highh' original and effecti\'e American no\els, 
including "Life in the Iron Mills," "Waiting fir the 
Verdict," " Dallas Galbnu'th," " |olm Antlross," and 
others, which ha\'e given her a wide leputation among 
the readers of the higher grade of fictitious literatme. 

Mr. Da\'is recei\ed ills education at Lehigh and the 
Johns Hopkins l'ni\ei'sities. After graduating frcjm the 
latter institution In- turned his attention to literar)' woik, 
stimulated, doubtless, by the e.\am[)le and success of his 
parents, and in 18S7 began his journalistic lal)ors as a 
reporter on the Pliilailclpliia Rtccrd. He continued en- 
gaged in this line of literar)- labor for two years, part of 
this time being sjient in I'Jigland as correspondent to the 
home press. At the end of this time he went to New 
York, under an engagement to write special articles for 
the livciiiug Sim. 

While thus acti\ely engaged in journalistic labois, tlie 
young seekei' for literar)' fame aspired to higher honors 
than were likely to come tf'the reporter or corresjjondent. 
He had inherited an artistic imagination from both par- 
ents, and showed promising powers in the line of fiction, 
which were destinetl to bring him an earl)' and merited 
reputation. This came to him with tiie jiublication of 
his rac)' and original stor)' of " ( iallagher," which pi'o\ed 
a complete ami brilliant success, and brou<rht the )oimg 
author into sudden prominence in the literar)' arena. The 
storv', as most readers will know, is that of a bo)- in a 
newspaper office, wlio succeeds b)' (|iuckness of resources, 
agility, and indomitable pluck in bringing important news 
to the paper under circumstances in whicii any boy with 
less "go" in him th.m Gallagher wovdd have failed. Mr. 
Davis's knowledge of the inner life of the office served 
him in good stead in this narrative, which is so bright 
and breez)' that it took the reading world b\' stoi'm. 

His success won immeiliate recoi/nition. He was 




offered and accejited in i8gO the editorial management of 
Harper's Weekly, and held it successfull)' for a year, when 
lie resigned it in order to devote his time wholly to 
literar)' work of .i more original anil attractive cla.ss. 
During the period of his editorial work he had been 
producing from time to time short stoi'ies of marked 
originality of incident and handling, through many of 
which mo\'es a character whom he has made famous in 
recent fiction. This is the easy-going and clear-minded 
aristocrat " \'an ISibbei'," wh.) in the hands of our woi'd 
artist has niade his appearance in a ([uick succession 
of amusing stories and striking situations Mr. Da\'is's 
stories have been [lublished in book form, including a 
volunn: made up of "Gallagher" and other stories, "Van 
15ibber and ( )thers," and " Stories for 15oys." 

His literar)' wor]<, however, lias been 1.))' no means 
confined to fiction. His experience abroail has given 
rise to striking pictiu'es of Lnglish life, published in 
Harper's Mai^-a.ziiie, and to his descrijitive volume, "Our 
English Cousins." 1 !e has jiublished, besides, an histor- 
ical work, "The Rulers of the ]\L:diterranean," and 
"•nie I'l.xiles." 

^L•. I)a\is is prob.ibl)' tlle most jjopidar of the younger 
corps of American writers. His books have been trans- 
lated into I-"rench, (jerman, and Italian ; while he has 
received from the Sultan of Turkey the Order of the 
Medjitlie, in recognition of the justice of his descriptions 
of Eastern affairs. He is still young in the art of litera- 
ture, and there is a promising future before him in the 
various fields of authorshii) to which he has devoted 
himself 



172 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 





JOHN RUSSEl.L YoUNG. 

A.MnXii the men who are I'liiladelphia-hred, one of the 
youngest in point of years at the time not only to carve 
out a career for himself but to assist in founding one of 
the institutions of the cit_\' that is a part ni its history, 
is John Russell Young. lie was Ixnii on a faiiii near 
Downingtown, No\ember 20, 1841, but he recei\ed his 
elementary education at the Harrison Grammar School, 
in Philadelphia, his fuller ha\!ng remcixed from Chester 
Count)- tn Kensington in 1S43. Subsequeiitl)- he at- 
tended the High School in Xew ( )rleans, where he lived 
for some years as the ward nf his uncle, James R. Young. 
Returning to Philadelphia, he became a copy-holder in 
the proof-room of the Press at the age of fifteen, but he 
soon was m<ide a I'eportcr, and was alterwartls athanced 
so rapidl)' that he had not \'et attained his niajcirit)- when 
he w,is an editorial writer on the p.ipei'. In lS(')i Mr. 
^'oung went to Washington with Colonel |olin W. I'or- 
ney as his pri\ate secretary, the Culnnel having been 
elected Secretary of the Senate. He continued to write 
for the Press, and first won his s[nirs as a war correspon- 
dent by his account of tlle battle of Hull Run in I1S61. 
Soon after the battle of Williamsburg he \\<is stiicken 
with typhoid fe\'er and comiielled to retinn to Philatlel- 
pliia. After his reco\"er\-, in ]\Ia\-, 1862, he was ap])ointed 
managing editor of the Press, and it was while he was 
holding this position that he assisted in foimding the 
Union League of Philadelphia, of which he became the 
president thirt}' \'ears later. In Apiil, 1864, Mr. \'oung 
joined General Hanks in New Orleans, and accompanied 
him through the Red River campaign as a member of his 
militar\' fuiiily. In 1865 he went to New York at the 
instance of Jay Cooke to assist in placing tiie national 
loan. While thus employed, he began to write leading 
articles for the New York Tribune. His fer\ id and vigor- 



ous style soon attracted the attention of Horace Greeley, 
and earl)- in \'^(^() he succeeded S\^dne)- Howard Gay as 
managing editor of that paper. Mr. Young, who was 
then onl)- in his twent)--fifth )-ear, would ha\'e ]:)referred 
the post of Washington correspondent, but Mr. Grecle)' 
insisted upon his acceptance of the more responsible posi- 
tion. In that jilace he soon manifested executive abilit)' 
of a high Older, and his reorganization of the Trilume 
staff between 1866 and 18(18 must be regartled as the 
master-work of modem journalism. Having in atklition 
to newspaper duties studied law, Mr. Young was admitted 
to the bar of New \'ork in 1867. Karlv' in 1870 Mr. 
Young established 1 he Staiiilard, a morning tlailv' news- 
paper, in New \'ork, but the s.uiie )-ear he was induced 
b}' George S. Houtwell, then Secretarv- of the Treasur\-, 
to go abroad in connection with the national finances. 
It was during his residence in Europe at this time that 
Mr. Young, who was opportune!)- in Paris, wrote an 
account of the rise and fdl of the Commune that ranks 
among the best examples of pj-iglish descriptive writing. 
In 1872, Mr. ^'oung consented to accept an editorial posi- 
tion on the New York tierald, and took up his residence 
in t^urope in the interest of that journal, spending two 
)-ears in Lontlon and Paris a)ul one on the continent. It 
was during his resilience in London, in I 877, that General 
Grant invited Mr. \'oung to .iccompany him on his tour 
around the w-orld. He was in conseciuence a member of 
the great soldier's fumlv- for nearl)- two )-ears, and the 
affection and confidence that were the results of the 
intimacv of the two men onl)- ended at Mt. McGregor. 
During the tour, Mr. \'oung wrote man)- brilliant descrip- 
tions (if the scenes and incidents of the journey for the 
Herald, which he subsequently recast and published in 
two large volunies with the title of "Around the World 
with General Grant," New \'ork, 1881. Hecause of the 
knowledge Mr. ^'oinig had acquired of the Chinese at 
home during their sta)- in the " Plowerv' Kingdom," Gen- 
eial Grant was extremeh' anxious that he should accept 
the appointment of Minister to China which President 
Arthur tendered him in 1882. Mr. Young accordingly 
resigned fioni the Herald and became the American 
representativ-e at Pekin, but resigned upon the advent 
of the first Cleveland administration. He is a frequent 
contributor to the newspapers and magazines, and oc- 
casionally writes for tlie New \'ork Herald and the 
Philadelphia Eveiiiiie:; Star, in which he has a proprietary 
interest. It is an open secret among his friends that he 
has in hand sonie important literar)- work with which he 
expects to crown his career as a writer. PLarl)- in 1892 
Mr. Young was made the F"ourth Vice-President of the 
Philadelphi.i and Reading Railroad, but he resigned when 
the company went into the hands of the receivers. He 
was chosei-i President of the Union League of Philadel- 
])liia in 1893, and i-e-electetl in 1 894. 



MAKERS OF PHlLADELP/f/A. 



173 



ADAM GIMBKL. 

Adam Gimisei., notable fur hi^ highly successful mer- 
cantile career, is a native nf i>a\aria, (ierniau)-, in vvllicll 
ciunitiy lie was horn in I Si 3. He \\,is eilueated in 
liis nati\c l.iml, and w lun In- came to Americi, in 1S39, 
he was jienniless. lie' landed in New (Ji'leans, in which 
city he earned his first miine\- in lulpinj; to load ships. 
Yet the new einiL^iant had in him the business i|ualities 
sure to brini^r success in a l.md of LjrowiuL; oppoitLUiities, 
— those of iiulustry, eC(_>noni\', entei'prise, and s}'stcniatic 
attention to business details. After a few )'ears he suc- 
ceeded in sa\ iiiL; niouev enouL;h to stait a small Inisiness 
in X'incemu's, Indiana, then one of the laiL;est and most 
promisinL; cities in th.it part ot the country. 1 leie his af- 
fairs tlni\ed, and b\- the year iSf):; he JKul de\eloiK-'d the 
lar!j,est Inrsiness in that part of Indiana, ha\in;j;, in addition 
to his store in X'inceinies, opened ,i sriics o| similar estab- 
lishments throUL;hout the .State. AmoiiL; the articles dealt 
in !:))• him were fins, w hich he w.is .unoiii; the eai'liest per- 
.son.s to buy from the Indians anil send east for e.\portatii:)n. 

In 1865 Mr. Gimbel came to Philadelphia, inspired 
with ,1 new" ,uid promisinjj; idea, that of becomiuL; the 1 
resident piurchasinL;" aL;ent, in this ceiitie ot Amei'ican 
manufactuie, for his \aiious business houses in the 
West. He was the first to untlertake this line of busi- 
ness, the idea beini; l.n';j;el_\' or soleh' his own, and he 
carried it out with ,ui abilitx' and success that proved 
beneficial alike to the mills witli which he <le,dt aiul 
the stores which he supplied. liuyiuL;' at tust h.mds, 
as he did, he was ,ilile to olfei' excellent teinis to his 
customers, and the more so as he made it an imde- 
xiatini;" rule of hi^ business lite to bu_\- nothiiiL; e.\ce])t for 
cash. Anothei' of his fi.xetl ndes was ne\'er to borrow 
a dollai', whatever his necessities. 

Mr. Gimbel's trade pro\'ed as beneficial to the mills j 
with which he dealt as to himself Keeping;" himself j 
tlioroUL;hly accpiainteil with the kinds <if odotfs likeh' to 
find a market in the West, he L;ot the mills to make 
snoods to suit the needs of his customers, and kept nian\- 
of them rimninLj by his orders alone. He was well 
laiown by .ill mill-owners as a shrewd, careful bux'er, an 
excellent judL;e of ij.oods, ami possessed of a retentive 
memory that ser\ed him in tjood stead. In dispcisition [ 
he was noted for his jovial sj'ood-humor ; and the appear- ' 
ance of Mr. Gimbel, beariiv^; in his haiul the plain memo- 
randum-book which contained his ordeis for the da_\-, was I 
alwa)-s smiliiiL;!)' i^reeted by the manuf icturers whom he ' 
fuoieil with his visits. 

Mr. ( hmbel retired from business in I SS7, haviiv_; amassed i 
a \ery ample competence, and been succeeded in Inisiness 
b_\' his seven sons, in all of whom he had thoroiiijhly 
inilocti'inatetl the business principles to which he owed 
his own success in life. The}' were all educated in the 
Philadelphia public schools, and afterwards went into 




f 



business in the West, followint^ up the line of trade their 
father had established in that reL;ion, — the retail dry-Ljoods 
and carpet business. In this line they have been emi- 
nently successful, and possess at present a chain of thriving; 
stores in Milwaukee and other prominent Western cities. 
In iSSj, on the retirement of their father fi-om Ijusiness, 
thev'were enabled to buv out his entire interest in the 
business houses with which he was connected, ami to 
replace him in their man,iL;ement. Since th.it time he 
has lived a ijuiet ami reliiid life, occujiying himself with 
the care of his extensive iinestmeiits, while he continues 
to reside in the house which he occupied on first coming 
to Philadelphia. He is. in truth, v erv domestic in dispo- 
sition, plain .md unassuming in tastes, and warmly de- 
voted to his lainilv, the unmarried members of which 
continue to reside with him. TIioul;!! his sons ha\e often 
.ulvoc.ited moviilL; to a l,u-L;er house, Mr. ( h'mbel clings 
to his old home with an .ilfectioii which is not to be 
moved b\' argument. 

Through his loyalty to I'hiladelphia, and his feeling 
that the interests of the family should Ije centred in this 
cit)-, several of his sons h.ive recently returned here, and 
are now ellg.iged in business, under the tuni ll.inie of 
(jimbel Brothers, in the large stores at the south-east 
corner of Ninth and Market Streets, receiith- occupied 
b\- Granville Haines is: Comp.my an<l Wood, Hrown &: 
Comi)an_v. The sons in Philadelphia are Isaac, Charles, 
I^llis .\., and Benjamin, the othe s still remaining in busi- 
ness in the West. Mi'. Gimbel takes a warm interest in 
this enterprise, visiting the store <ind spending several 
hours there dailv, though in his seventy-ninth vear of 
age; while the business s)-stem which he has taught 
his sons is so excellent th.it tlu-y are enabled to con- 
duct their \er\- large business with coinparativelv' little 
labor. 



174 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




HON. CHARLHS U'NHILL. 

CiiAKLKs O'Neill, notable for liis Idiil;" service in tlie 
United States House of Representatises as one of the 
members from I'hiladclphia, was boi'n in this cit_\', March 
21, icS2i. llis father died while he w.is still a young 
bo_\\ l)Lit left his tamil)' in comfi.irtable circumstances, and 
llis mother sent him at the age of sixteen to Dickinson 
College, with the \iew of preparing him f n- the study of 
the law. The inclin.itions of the \-outh turned in a dif- 
ferent tlirectioii, that of mercantile business, aiul before 
he had been a )-ear in college he wn>te home to his 
mother, telling her that he liad no desire to become a 
law_\er, but wisheil to return home and enter upon busi- 
ness life, llis mother thereupon wrote to the presitlcnt 
of the college, asking him to senil her son home, as 
he evideiith' had no \\ ish to stialy law . The [)iesident 
replied to the effect that it was injudicious to be governed 
by a bo_\'s whim, m\l\ ajjpealed to her to let Charles 
remain in college, saying th.it she would ne\ er regret it. 
He had seen enough of the bo_\\ he said, to know that 
he onl_\' needed the opportunity to make his mark in the 
workl. and in his ojjinion it would be a serious mistake 
to reino\e him from college. This tlecisive opinion lixed 
Mrs. O'Neill in her original intenti(.)n, .md she wrote to 
her son, sa_\'ing that he would ha\e to remain in college, 
and gi\-e up his idea of going into business. This inci- 
dent proved the turning-i)oint in the young man's career, 
the event showing that the college president's judgment 
of his capabilities \vas well founded. 

He graduated from Dickinson in i iS40, and soon after 



entered the law office of George M. Dallas, who f(.)ur 
years afterwanls became Vice-President of the United 
States. He was admitted to the bar in 1S4J. In Mr. 
Dallas's office he foiMiied a friendsliip with John Hamil- 
ton, a fellow-student, who, though opposed to him in 
politics, was to help him materially in his first pc.ilitical 
campaign. O'Neill was a Whig, Hamilton a Democrat, 
but friendship jiroved stronger than political opinion, and 
when C)'Neill was nominatetl for State Representati\e in 
1850, Hamilton came strongly to his aid. He had be- 
come counsel for a number of xohmteer fire companies, 
and he worked so eiiergeticall}- among the firemen for 
votes that O'Neill was elected. Thus began a career of 
legislative service that was to last with scared}' an inter- 
mission dui'ing all the remainder of his life. 

In 1 85 I and 185 J he was re-elected to the House, antl 
in 1S53 was elected to the State Senate. On the forma- 
tion of the Republican party, he joined it, and wa.s sent 
again to Harrisbm'g as a Representati\'e in 1S60. His 
Congressional service began in I 864, in which year he was 
nominated and elected by the Republican party as Rep- 
resentatixe for the old first District. His first Congress 
wa.s the Thirtx'-eighth, and he serxed in ex'ery Congrcs.s 
afterwards, with one e-\ce[)tion, to the date of his deatli. 
This exception was the Forty-second. After the reappor- 
tionment of districts based on the census of 1870, Mr. 
O'Neill was elected in 1872 as member for the Second 
District, which he continued thereafter to represent. 

As a Congressman he rarcK' figured in debate, but 
Philadelphia had no more useful member on her delega- 
tion. He lo\'ed his cit_\-, and worked indefatigabh- in her 
interest. The appi'opriations which ha\-e been made for 
harbor impro\ements antl for other purposes in this city 
were perhaps more due to him than to any of his fellow- 
members of Congress. He was an amiable man, and 
delegations of Philadelphians who \isited Washington 
on ofhckd business were sure of a cordial welcome from 
him. In all his political career he never missed a single 
day from Congress while it was in sessicMi, except during 
his last illness, and made it a rule, from which he never 
deviated, to answer every lettei- on the da\' in which he 
recei\'ed it. ( )n the tleath of Mr. Randall, he succeeded 
to the honorar}- title of " Father of the House." His 
right to that title was tlisjjuted b_\- Mr. Holman, of 
Indiana, but it was finally accorded to him. His last 
official act was that of ailministering the oath of office 
to Speaker Crisp, at the beginning of the extra session of 
Congress in 1893. Soon after he was takert ill, and came 
home in August, dying there November 25, 1893. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



1/5 



THOMAS DOLAN. 

Thomas Doi.ax, one of the leadiiiLj manufactui-er'< of 
Pliiladelphia, is a nuti\e nf Pennsyh-ania, liaviiig been 
born in Aloiiti^omery Count}-, October 27, 1S34. ile 
came to Philadelphia while still j-ouhl;, and ojjtained 
there a position in a commission house wlicise princip.d 
business was the sale ol fanc)- knit L;do(ls and hosier\-. 
Here the obser\ant boy Ljained his first itleas of the 
opportunities for business de\'elopment in this liirection, 
and after obtaininsj; a thorough knowIedLje of the busi- 
ness, the market deinantl for this class of giiods, and the 
improvements that miylit be made in their character antl 
ciualit}-, he determineil on embarkiuL; in their nianufictuie, 
and in 1S61 bet^aii business in a small way in a factoi'}' 
building at Hancock and ( )xford Streets. His business 
still continues in this localit}-, but the motlest establish- 
ment of that ilay has long since been rc[>laced b)' an 
imposing group of buildings, with the dimensions of a 
manufacturing town in the factory structures and the 
dwellings of their operatives. 

It was at this time Cculy in the era of the manuficture 
of what were known as Germantown knit goods. Mi'. 
Dolan entered into the manufactm-e of these, anti soon 
de\'eloped a prosperous trade in this class of fabrics, to 
which he largely confined himself until iS6''i, when the 
market for knit goods became sluggish and hea\\', as a 
result of o\-er-production. He now, perceiving that busi- 
ness could be stiniulatei.1 only Ijy inipro\ed nieth<ids and 
materials, inauguratetl the use of the finest worsted \-arns 
in the production of \'arious lines of goods, jirominent 
among which were what \\ere then known as "Berlin 
Shawls." His business cjuickly felt the impulse of the 
change, and within five \'ears his production of this class 
of goods had run u|) to Si,030,000. The demand then 
suddcnl)- declineil, the market for Berlin shawls falling 
off, and in 1872 he abandoned their manufacture, and 
began the pn.uluction of worsted materials for men's 
wear, a branch of business which he has since then 
greatly develoj^ed. 

In 1875 he introduced the manufacture of men's fanc\- 
cassimeres and ladies' cloaking materials, and, while still 
continuing the knit-goods trade, graduall\" turned his . 
principal attention in this direction. The manufacture of 
hosier}' was also a branch of his biisiness at this time, 
but he abandoned it about 187S; and in 1882 ga\e up 
the production of knit goods, upon which he had been 
engaged since i86i,and devoted his works exclusively 
to the production of men's wear. His establishment, at 
the present time, is the largest in the Ignited States pro- 
ducing this class of goods, and has few rivals in the 




world. Though now de\ oted solel}' tc_> the production 
of goods for men's clothing, the works still retain their 
title of the Kev'stone Knitting Mills, and form, with their 
e.\-tensi\-e group of buildings, one of the busiest centres 
of industr}' in this cit}' of active manufacture. For 
man}' }-ears Mr. Uokui carried on business alone, but at 
present he has several partners, the firm name being 
Thomas Dolan & Co. He I'etains as his dut\- the super- 
intendence ot the woiks, while each of his partners has 
charge of some other branch of the business. 

Mr. Dolan has man\- other interests which occup\- 
much of his time and attention. He is President of the 
Uuaker Cit}- D}e-\Vorks Company, of the Philadelphia 
Association of Manufacturers of Textile I'abrics, and of 
the Textile D}-ers' Association, aiul is Vice-President of 
the National Association of Wool Manufacturers, and of 
the Union League. Politicall}- he is an earnest Repub- 
lican aiul a vigorous ad\dcate of the protection of Amer- 
ican m.inuf.ictuiing industries, and has recentl\- made 
some incisi\e utterances on this subject which ha\'e 
attracted wide attention. 

In addition to the associations named, he is a director 
of the Philadelphia Traction Company, the Brush Electric 
Light Company, and several other business concerns, 
aiul is a trustee of the Penns\-l\ania Museum of Indus- 
trial Art, and a director of the School of Design for 
Women and of the Universit}- Hosjiital. He takes, 
indeed, a strong interest in all the reform and charitable 
mo\-ements of the cit}-, and ma}- justl}- be ranked with 
those w-ho ha\e warml}- at heart the iiiterests of the good 
City of Brotherly Love. 



/ 



176 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JOSHPH 1. DORAN. 

JosiJ'ii I. DdKAX. a prominent l.iw^-cr of Phihalelphia 
and for mail)' years past associated in practice with Hon. 
John C Bullitt, was Ijorn in I'liiladclpliia, January 17, 
1844. His father, [nseph AI. Uoran, wlio was also a 
native of I'hilailelphia, was bom October 10, 1800, 
graduated fmni the l'ni\ersit\- of I'enns\'lvania, studied 
law, and b\- the eneri;)-, abilit\', and honesty which he 
displayed in the practice of his profession, quickly gained 
not onl)' reputation but a large and lucrative business, in 
\\hich his success was distinguished. He was an active 
member of the Convention of 1837 to re\ise the Consti- 
tution of renns_\-l\ania, being one ot the delegates from 
the cit\' of Philadelphia. In I (S40 he was appointed to 
the Bench of the Court <if (ieneral Sessions of Philadel- 
phia, and ser\ed three \ears in that position. 1 le died 
June 6, 1859. 

Mr. Doran recei\-ed his pieliminar_\- eilucatioii in pii\ate 
sch(.)ols, principalK' tli.it of John W. P^aires, b\- whnm he 



was prepared to enter the University of Pennsyhania. 
He remained, however, at the University but a short time, 
and in the fdl of i860 he entered the office of John C. 
Bullitt, first as a clerk, then as a student of law. I le was 
admitted to the b.ir in .\pril, 1865. Two \-ears subse- 
quently he was admitted to practice in the Suj)reme Court 
of Pennsylvania. Mr. Uoran's practice has been con- 
fineti to that of railroad and general corporation law. He 
is consulting counsel of many corporations, and has been 
general siilicitor of the Norfolk & Western Railroad 
since the organization of that compan)-. Like his 
honored father, he has de\ otetl himself with great zeal 
and earnestness to his chosen profession, and his business, 
during liis many years of bus\- practice, has grown to 
large, laboiious, .uid exacting proportions. Preserving 
his habits of industr_\-, stud)% and close application, he 
hatl also brcjught to the discharge of the manifold duties 
of his calling a clear and conscientinus conception of 
ever)- obligation, ami an ability as umiuestioned in degree 
as it has been jirolific in emolument. P'rom about 18S0 
he has been closely identified with the de\elopment — 
which started at that time and which since has been so 
rapid and successful — of the coal and iron districts of 
Virginia and West Virginia. In 1S76, he read an inter- 
esting and suggesti\-c paper before the American Social 
Science Conx'ention, on the subject of " ]")uikling Asso- 
ciati(ins," which attracted much attention. Plis pamphlet 
on " ( )ur P"isher_\- Rights in the North Atlantic," pub- 
lished in 1888, was an e.xhaustixe in\estigation of this 
intricate and important subject, and was received gen- 
erally as a forcible argument and the best statement of 
the American side of the fishery question. The Phila- 
delphia Ledger spoke of it as a "brief, jnmgcnt, and able 
pamphlet,'' and the Bos/on Evening Traiiseript considered 
it " one of the most satisfactory contributions to the lit- 
erature of the fishery controversy." These studies were 
diversions from Mr. Doran's close attention to the details 
of his large ami extending practice, which almost e.x- 
clusi\el\' occuj)ies his time and thoughts. 



JI/AKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



I// 



THOMAS SUI.LY. 

In I/QJ.ail lMlL;Iish cqucsti'i.in pcifDiiiui, namid ! ,a\\- 
ix-ncc Sully, came tn this cdunti-y, briiiLiini^f witii him his 
famil)', amDiiL;^ them Jiis young son Thomas, Ijoin in 17S3. 
Several of his cliililren sliowed a predilection i'nr art, and 
particularly the S(in named, wIk^ was tiestined ti> attain 
eminence amont; American ai'tists. lie was Init nine 
)'cars of age when his father came to Philadelphia, but 
already his tendenc}' towards art had strongl}- developed, 
and he began diligent study under his biother-iii-law, a 
French amateur in painting. This connection ended in a 
quarrel, and the boy when sixteen years of age was cast 
adrift. He sought his elder brother Lawrence, wlm was 
then engaged as a miniature painter at Richmond, \'ir- 
ginia, and with whom he remained till 1S06, aciiuiiang 
skill in miniature painting antl s(.)me knowledge of oil 
ptainting. h'roin Richmond he proceetletl to New \'ork, 
where he painted a portrait of the actress Mrs. Warren, 
then to Boston, to stutly under Guilbert Stuart, and finally 
to Philadelphia, in which city iiis first },'ears in Amei'ica 
had been spent. 

The )'0ung artist had married, ani.1 foimd it b_\' no 
means easy to su[)port himself and his wife in the Quaker 
cit)'. Importunately for him, he gained the friendship of 
Henjamin VVilcocks, a generous patmn of art, who raised 
a fund to send him to London to stud\-, the money to 
be repaitl in copies of pictures ot the ol<l masters. lie 
reached London in 1S09, having left most of his mone}' 
with his wife in America. He was now obliged to live 
w ith the greatest frugalit}', but worketl w ith untiling dili- 
gence and care, making many friends among the Lontlon 
artists, particularly Benjamin West, who gave him the 
opportunit}' to make the copies of the old masters re- 
quircc-l from the paintings in his collection. 

Mr. Sull_\- returned to Philadelphia in iSio, and at once 
ga\e his attention to portrait painting, which appearetl 
Ikely to be much the most profitable branch of his 
profession in America. His j^ortraits were aitistic and 
flattering, though not too much so to be true to nature. 
Among them ma\' Ije mentioned paintings of Cooke, the 
comedian, in character as Richard III., (tf William B. 
Wood lis Charles de Mooi-, of l)i'. Benjamin Rush, 
Governor Tompkins of New York, Samuel Coatcs, 
President of the Pennsylvania Hospital, Cjeneral Andrew- 
Jackson, and many other leading personages. 

He (liil not, however, confine himself to portrait paint- 
ing, but found \arious imaginative subjects for his brush 
in the character of poetry and roni<uice, his character 




pictures including " Pyknics and Orestes," " Lady of the 
Lake," "Miranda" fidiii "The Tempest," "Death of 
Long Tom Coffin" from Cooper's" Pilot," " The Landing 
of Telemachus and Mentor on the Island of Caly]«o," and 
various others. Among these ma_\- be named a well- 
known i)ainting of an American historical subject, "The 
Capture of Major Andre." A second [lainting from 
.\merican histor\- w as iiis celebratetl " Washington Cross- 
ing the Delaware," a work which, despite its great merit, 
proN'cd a source of loss and disappointment to the artist. 
Its large size stood in the way of its sale, and e\ent- 
uall)' it was disposed of f(.)r fi\e Inmdreil dollars, not 
enough to pay the actual cost of materials of models, 
without regard to the two years of time spent upon 
it. It was finally sold by its purchaser to the Boston 
Mirseum. 

Another xaluable painting, the full-length pc)rtrait of 
LafiN'ette, now the ])ropert_\- of the cit}' of Philadel]3hia, 
also ])roved a loss to the painter, the parties who ordered 
it fcu'ling to pa\- for it. He finally presented it to the 
Acatlenu' of P'ine Arts. In 1S37 Mr. .Sull_\- went to 
luigiand, where he |),iinted a full-length portrait of the 
\-outhfLd (jueen \'ictoria. This work' was admirabl)' 
ilone, and was his last important jiroduction. He con- 
tinued to produce cliarming portraits until within a short 
time of his death, which took place in 1 87 J, at his iiome 
in Philadelphia. As a colorist he had no superior in this 
country, ami Ameiica has produced few portrait [xiintcrs 
of equal .ihility. 



23 



178 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




LUCRHTIA MOTT. 

Llckktia Mott was the dauyliter of Captain Thomas 
Coffin, of the island of Nantucket, and the descendant 
of one of the oriLjinal purchasers of tlie island. She 
was born in Nantucket, Januar)- 3, 1793, and brouL,dit b_\- 
her parents to Boston when ele\cn _\'ears of aL;"e. Her 
education was recei\ed partl_\- in Boston, parth' in a 
boarding-school in Dutchess Count}-, New Ynrk, belong- 
ing to the Societ)' i}f k'rientls, of which societ)- her parents 
were members. Anmng the teachers in this institution 
was James Mott, her future luisb.uul. The \'oung stuilent 
seems to ha\e been unusually precocious mentall)', for, 
as she informs us, she was herself a teacher at fifteen 
years of age. In I S09 her parents rcmovetl to Phila- 
tlelphia. In the fiUdwing year James Mott came to 
the same city, and subsetiuentl)' engaged in business 
with Captain Coffin. He continued this business for 
more than forty \'ears, retiring with a competence. 

The maniage between Miss Coffin and James Mott 
took place in 1S15. In 1S17 she had charge nf a small 
schdiil in Philadelphia, and in 181S appe.ired in the min- 
istry of the Society of I-'riends, in which line of duty 
she soon became widely known for her fiuency of speech 
and the clearness, refinement, and eloquence of her dis- 
courses. When, at a subsequent date, the Society be- 
came divided by theological dissensions, she cast her lot 
with the Hicksite, or Unitarian branch. During her 
period nf ministerial service she made jom'neNs tlirough 
New I'jigland, New York, and Pennsylvania, and into 
Ohio, Indiana, Marykuul, and Virginia, in which States, 
the free and the slave alike, she did not hesitate to de- 
nounce human slaver\% of whose iniquity she was con- 
vinced long before there was any organized anti-slavery 
movement. The doctrine of woman's rights was also 
a part of her creed in this early period of her career. 



The first Anti-SIaver\' Con\-ention, finm which oi'igin- 
ated the American Anti-Sku'cry Societ)-, w.is held in 
Philadelphia in 1833. Mrs. Mott took part in its pro- 
ceedings, and in the ne.xt \'ear aitled in firming the 
Female Anti-Sla\ery Societ}-, of which she became a 
zealous member. .She lectured as its missionar}- through 
the Northern States, despite the unpopularit}- of the sub- 
ject at that time. In 1840 she was one of the female 
delegates sent b}- the Philadelphia Society to London to 
attend a World's Anti-.Sla\'ery Convention held in that 
cit}-. Hei' husband, James Mdtt, wlm was ei]uall}- zeal- 
ous with herself in the anti-sla\-ery cause, and a friend 
of William LIo\'d Garrison, its leading advocate, was 
also a delegate to the London coinention. 

The sending of women delegates to luigland produced 
unforeseen and fir-reaching results. The convention re- 
fiised them admittance, despite the urgent appeals of 
some of its members, including James Mott. This con- 
sei-\-<iti\'e action of a body convened for the furtherance 
of human rights pi'oxoketl se\'ere criticism anil aroused 
fiery indign.itiiin in the ranks of liberal thinkers. Mrs. 
Mott, wlio had been cordiall}- recei\-ed in England, made 
various addresses on the subject, and its final outcome 
was the establishment of Wmiian's Rights joLunals in 
tlngland .uid l-'i.uice, and the awakening of a feeling in 
America that led, in 1848, to the calling of a Woman's 
Rights Con\ention at .Seneca P'alls. Mrs. Mott was one 
cif the four women who calletl this convention, and James 
Mult, wild aided in its con\ening, was its president. 

While taking an active part in this new movement, 
Mrs. Mott continueil her zealous advocac}- of the cause 
of the slave, and held frecjuent meetings with the colored 
people of the North, whom she aided by advice and en- 
couragement. (.les[)ite the hostilit}- and animad\-ersion 
which her course e.xcited among pro-slavery advocates. 
Her labors in this direction did not end until the war 
matle a final settlement of the question, after w hich she 
gave earnest attentinn to other reforms, particularly that 
of woman's rights, which she actively advocated. On 
the proposition to f >und a Woman's Medical College in 
Philadelphia, she became one of its most earnest pro- 
motors. In truth, e\'er}- new [ihilanthrojjic mo\ement 
that was brought u|) fountl in her an eainest disciple. 
.She was zealous in the cause of temperance, was acti\-ely 
interesteil in the P'ree Religion movement in Boston about 
1868, ami joined in the movement for universal peace, 
being several }-eai-s President of the Penns}-Kania Peace 
[ Society. She died in Philadelphia, NoN'ember II, 1880, 
' in her eighty-eighth }-ear of age, warmly esteemed by 
all who knew her and universall}- respected. No purer, 
nobler, or more kindl}- soul, and no one more intrepid 
and fearless in the cause of truth, had e\-er breathed upon 
this planet, ami in the annals of philanthropy the name 
of Lucretia ^lott must al\va}-s be given a foremost place. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



179 



ELLIS LHWIS. 

I'.i.i.is Lkwis, a pidiiiincnt jiiiist of Pcnns)'lvania, was 
born at Lew isbui'L;', in this State, May 16, 1798; his 
native town l)ein_L,f one which liad received its name in 
lionor of his father, VX\ Lewis, a man of \\'eahh, wide 
influence, and (_le\eloped h'terary tastes, who died wlien 
liis son was but Inm^ years old. Durini^' the Liiil; minority 
of the son, his estate, the niaiiaL;enient nf which liad 
been [)l,iced in incompetent hands, was ilissipated, and, 
while still a bo}', he fountl himself thrown on his own 
resources and forced to shift for himself in life. He 
pr<>\ed e(iual tn the emerL^enc}' ; learniiiL; the planter's 
trade, to which he was put, so well that b_\- the time he 
reached the age of manhootl he was a good practical 
printer, and hatl done satisfictoi'y editori.d work. While 
occupied as printer and etlitnr, he engaged in the study 
of law, and at t\\ ent\--fonr yeai's nf age was .admitted to 
the b.ir, having ac(|uiretl .1 profession to which he was 
admiiably ailajiteil b\' n.itiire. antl in which he was tles- 
tined to make great progress. Abmit this time he married 
Miss Josephine W'allis, the danghtei' of Joseph W'allis. 

Two years after his atlmission io the jiractice of law, 
Mr. Lewis was ap|)ointed to the office of 1 )eput\' Attor- 
ney-General for L}'coming Cnunt)-, Pennsylvania. In 
this position he made himself prnminent politically, the 
result being th.it he was electetl a member of the Ix'gis- 
lature of l'enns)-l\ani.i. Here he m.ule his .ibility, both 
as lawyer and legislator, so strongl}' felt as to .ittr.ict the 
attention of Go\-crn(ir W'nlfe, who in iS:;3 apjxiinted him 
Attorney-General of the -State. In the latter part of the 
.same year his career as ,1 judge began, he being appoiiitetl 
President-JuLlge of the La'ghth District of I'ennsyKania, 
a position which he retained for ten years, when he re- 
ceived the appointment of President-Judge of the Second 
District. 

Judge Lewis's fine powers as a juiist, as displayed in 
these positions, were so manifest that in 1851 the highest 
judicial honor in the gift of the people was conferred 
upon him, he being elected a Justice of the Supreme 
Court (if Pennsyl\-ania. In 1855 he attained the exalted 
position of Chief-Justice of this court, which he retainetl 
for two years, .ukI tlien I'etiietl tn pii\.ite life, declining, 
in 1857, the unanimous nomination of the Democratic 
committee to a renew.al of his (.ifficial position. It w.is 
as a Justice of the Supreme Court, and tluring his Liter 
life, that Judge Lewis became connected with PhiLulel- 
phia, and gained his claim to admis.sion to this \olume. 



/f 






\ 



\ 




In addition to his judicial decisions, which displayed 
deep legal learning and the highest order of merit, and 
which ,ire regarded as a \-aIuable legac\- to the legal pro- 
fession, he published a work- of much value, entitled, 
"An .Vbridgmcnt of the Criminal Law of the Lhiited 
•States." The honorary tlegree of Doctor of Metlicine 
was conferred upon him on account of his knowledge of 
medical jurisprudence, while he recei\ed from two uni- 
versities the degree of Doctor of Laws, in merited recog- 
nition of the width .iiid i)ri>fundit_\- of his legal learning. 
He was, in truth, wideU' recognized as a ripe scholar, a 
deej) thinker, and a public-spirited and benex'olent man, 
whose life-record was one to win encomiums from .ill who 
knew him, either persimall}' or by reputation. He died 
March 19, 1871. 

As regards the children of Judge Lewis, the following 
information ma)- be of interest. His oklest daughter 
married Hon. Jan-ies H. Campbell, of Pottsxille, who wa.s 
Unitetl States Minister to .Sweden and Xorw.i_\- during 
the .Klministr.ition of Presitient Lincoln, and a sketch of 
whose life we h,i\e elsewhere given. Mrs. Campbell en- 
tered the field of literature, and has become an authores.s 
of some celebrit}-. I lis \-oungest d.iughter married Caj)- 
tain Janies \\'ile\-, of the L'liited States Marine Corps. 
The onl_\- son of Judge Lewis entered the Marine Cor[)s 
just l)etore the w.ir, rose to the rank of major in this 
branch of the ser\ice. .iiul died within a )-ear of his 
father. 



i8o 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 





WILLIAM M. MEREDITH. 

William AIukris AIicredith, an L-niincnt lawyer of 
PliiLidclpliia, \va^ bi>in in tliat cit_\-, Juno S. 1799. He 
received his education at tlie University of PennsN-lvania, 
and Ljraduated with distinction at a \-ery early a^e. Lle 
aftervvartls studied law, and was adniittetl to the bar some 
years before attaininij his niajorit\'. His unusual pre- 
cocit)' as a student was borne out in his subse(iuent 
career, whicii was a remarkabh' brilli.uit one. As a law- 
yer, indeed, he made his wa_\' but slowly into practice, 
and for .several years had a very motlerate legal business, 
thougli he was afterwards, for a lontj time, esteemed the 
head of the bar in his nati\-e city. 

While still youny he took an active part in politics, 
and in i8:!4 was elected to the Pennsylvania LeL(islature 
as a member for Phil,nlelphi.i, continuing;" there till iSjS. 
His ne.\t public service was as a member of the .'-lelect 
Council of the city, in which his abilitv as a municipal 
legislator was so manifest that in 1X34 he was matle 
president of the chamber, and held this post of honor 
till 1849. Ill 1S37 he became a member of the conven- 
tion which met that \X'ar for the purpose of amending 
the Pcnns)-1\ aiiia St.ite Constitution, .1 tluty in whicli liis 
legal ability made him of great \alue. His period of 
service in the Select Council of Phil.ulelphia ended in 
1849, in which )-ear President Taylor, in selecting the 
members of his Cabinet, chose him to fill the imjiortant 
post of Secretary of the Treasury. This position he held 



till the death of the President, in Jul\-, I 850, when he re- 
turned to his [jractice in Philadelphia. His next term of 
public dut\' began in 1861, when he was made Attorne}-- 
General of the State of Pennsylvania, a position which 
he retained till 1869. Subsequently he became a mem- 
ber of the Constitutional Convention assembled to again 
re\ise the organic laws of Pennsylvania, and was chosen 
president of that body, in which his knowledge of law 
and long experience in public affairs made him one of 
the most useful and efficient members. He died in 
Philadelphia, Augu.st 17, 1873. 

Air. Meredith was a man of extraordinary legal learn- 
ing, and of unusual quickness of apprehension and 
balance of judgment. He had a marked abilit\" in 
grasping and co-ordinating facts, mid in deducing from 
them the real points at issue. As a speaker, he was 
straightforward and terse in manner, and had a ready and 
free flow of humor, which adileil greath' to his effect 
upon his hearers. P"or many years he stood in the fore- 
most rank of American lawyers, and as an able and ready 
legal debater had few equals aiul scarcely any superiors 
in the countr}-. His ra])idh--growing reputation brought 
him, ere he had been many years before the bar, a large 
and lucrative practice, and during the greater part of his 
career he was constantK' engaged in cases of much im- 
portance, both in the Supreme Court iif PennsyKania and 
in that of the United States. 

Air. Aleredith's \-oiinger brother, Sulli\an A. Aleredith, 
born in 1816, had a career in the Civil War of such im- 
portance as to call for attention. He was at the outbreak 
of the war commissioned colonel of the PLighleenth 
Pennsylvania Regiment, his commission bearing date, 
April 25, 1861. At this time the mustering of troops 
was proceeding with great rapidity, and he was appointed 
to this impiirtant duty, in which he superinteiuled the 
drilling, equipment, and forwarding of over thirty thou- 
sanil troops. At a later date he took part in Patterson's 
campaign in the .Shenandoah Valle\-, and was afterwards 
made colonel of the iMfty-ninth Regiment, His first 
acti\'e service in the field was in the second battle of Bull 
Run, in which he was se\'erel\- wounded. I*"or his gallant 
ser\ice in this contest he was promoted brigadier-general 
of volunteers. P'or a considerable period afterwards he 
acted .is commissioner for the exchange of prisoners, 
but in 1864 ser\etl under General Rosecrans, ami con- 
tinued in active ser\ice till the disbanding of the arm\' 
in 1865. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



i8l 



JAMES THOMPSON. 

James Thompson, late Chief-Justice of the Supreme 
Court of Pennsylvania, was born in 1806, in Butler 
County, Penns\-Ivania, beincj descended from a Scotch- 
Irish f,imil\- Iiiul; settletl in this cnuntrx'. Mis fither had 
served with distinction as a captain in the Revolutionary 
\Var. lie afterwards became a farmer, and died while 
his son was quite young, so that the latter obtained but 
a limited education, being principal 1_\' that which his 
mother, a woman of excellent natural endnwinents, was 
able to gi\e him. While a lad of eight nr nine years of 
age he pushetl his way, on une occasion, into the crowded 
court-house at J-iutler, and there was so entranced with 
the eloquence of a legal advocate that he became filled 
with an ambition tn ni>ike himself the equal of the man 
he heard. This advocate was Henry l-ialdwin, afterwards 
a Justice nf the Supreme Court nf New York. 

P'rom that time forward the ambitious boy kept this 
goal before his eyes, and diligently sought to prepare 
himself for it. He entered a newspaper office at Butler, 
devoting his leisure time to the stud\' of Latin, in which 
he became proficient, ami afterwards stucl_\'ing law in the 
office of tlie Hon. John Gilmore. Removing to Kittan- 
ning, he became interested in editing and jniblishing the 
(ja::cttL\ a leading newspaper of that tnwii, while he con- 
tinued his law studies in the office of Thomas Blair. Pie 
was admitted to practice at the age of twenty-three, 
having meanwhile married Mar\-, daughter of the Re\-. 
Nathaniel R. Snowden. His labors at the bar began in 
Franklin, Venango County, where he made rapid pro- 
gress, and quickly pushed his way to the front rank of 
the profession. He also became acti\'e in pulitics, wiiting 
and speaking in support of General Jackson for the 
Presidency, a course which brought him into such pi-omi- 
nence that he was made the Democratic mmiinee of his 
district for the Pennsylvania Assemblw He was elected 
by a handsome majority, and scr\ed for four \-ears, being 
Speaker of the House during the last session. 

After filling some other political positions, he was in 
the spring of 1839 unexpectedly a[)pointed, by Go\-ernor 
Porter, District Judge of the P'ifth Judicial District of 
PennsyKania, and his nomination unanimousl}- confirmed 
by the Senate. The court was originalh- established for 
five years, to relieve the Court of Common Pleas of the 
district, and was reneweil f )r one _\-ear, he continuing at its 
head throughout. In 1844, while still on the bench, he 
received the Democratic nomination of his Congressional 
district for Congress, and was elected, though the district 
had previously gone against the Democrats. He was re- 
elected for two successive terms, and retired on March 4, 
185 I, declining renomination. He took a prominent part 
in the important measures which came before Congress 
during his six years' service, and in his last term was 
made chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He had 




meanwhile rcm()\ed to luie, where he resimied the 
practice of his profession, ami gainetl a high reputation 
at the bar alike for his powers of mind and skill as 
a pleader. < )ne of the celebrated trials in which he 
was engaged was that of the lu'ie Railroad, in which 
Pklwin M. -Stanton. William M. Alereilith, George 
Tucker Campbell, and other distinguished law\-ers 
were also engaged. 

In 1857, Judge Thonijison was elected a Justice of the 
Supreme Court of PennsyKania, in common with Hon. 
William Strong, afterwards Justice of the Sujireme Court 
of the PTnited States. Shorth- after this date he remo\-ed 
with his fimil\- to Philadelphia. He served nine years as 
Associate Justice, and on January i, 1865, became Chief 
Justice, ha\'ing pre\-iously been successful in drawing lots 
with Justice Strong for this office He continuctl to oc- 
cupy this exalted chair for six years, to the general satis- 
faction and commendation of the people and the legal 
profession. At the end of these fifteen \-ears of service 
he was defeated by an adverse political majority, and 
retired from the bench. In the same \-ear his name was 
presented to the National Democratic Convention as a 
cantlidate for President, but he fiiled to I'eceive the nomi- 
nation. He did not long sur\i\e his return to the prac- 
tice of his profession, but died suddenly on Januar\- 28, 
1874, while engaged in organizing a case in the court 
over which he had recentl)- presided. 

Judge Thompson had an exalted reputation as a crim- 
inal lawyer, while his career on the bench brought him 
universal commendation for knowledge of the law, 
breadth of \-iew, and sound common sense in all his de- 
cisions. Chief-Justice Woodward said of him that " A 
clear head was so well balanced in him b}- a gootl heart, 
that he came as near to the perfection of JLidicial charac- 
ter as an\- man of our day." 



l82 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



|R ^ \ 




LEWIS C. CASSIDY. 

Lewis Cochran Cassidv, ex-Attorney-Gcncral of Penn- 
sylvania, was born in New York, October 17, 1829. Two 
or three years after iiis birth, his father — a t\-pe-fiiunder, 
of Irish extraction — renio\ed to Philadelphia, where he 
died when his son was ten \-ears of age. The boy was 
educated in the public schools of this city, was admitted 
to the Central High School at fourteen, and graduated in 
1847. He had decided upon following the law as a 
profession, and entered the office of Benjamin Harris 
Brewster, where he stuilietl with such diligence that on 
November 7, 1849, when just past twenty j'ears of age, 
he was admitted to the Philadelphia bar. Here he 
cjuickly acquired a reputation that placed him in ath'ance 
of many of his nlder associates. He had chosen the 
criminal branch of the profession as the one best suited 
to his tastes antl abilities, and early displa\-ed that power 
of searching cross-examination which has gi\-en him a 
wide fame. His remarkable abilit\' as a pleader was also 
quickly recognized. 

He became attorne)- for the Mo\-amensing Hose Com- 
pany, then a power in the district of the cit)- in which he 
resided, and grew so popular that his friends nominated 
him for the Legislature before he had been a _\-ear at the 
bar, and elected him before he had attained his majority. 
He became a leader in a reform movement in the House, 
but refused a second nomination, and in 1852 was elected 
Solicitor for the district of Moyamensing. In 1856, two 
years after the consolidation of the cit}-, he was nomi- 
nated for District Attorney against William B. Mann, and 
was returned as elected. Mr. Mann instituted a con- 
test, and was declared elected by se\entccn votes, after 
Mr. Cassidy had occupied the seat for one \'ear. In 



1862 he again r.ui against Mr. Mann for District At- 
torney, and was again defeated. In 1872 he became a 
member of the ("onstitutional Convention, and succeeded 
in having man\- measures of municipal reform carried, 
among them that of numbering the ballots at elections. 

As a law\-er, Mr. Cassidy's most famous victories at 
the bar were in tlie defence of prisoners accused of 
murder, and a remarkabh' large number of homicide 
cases were argued b}- him. In his later years he gave 
his attention largeK' to other branches of practice, and 
acquired a high reputation in the management of corpo- 
ration and other civil suits. In the political field he ex- 
hibited the same brilliant qualities that distinguished him 
as a lau\-er. In national politics he was a strong sup- 
porter of Stephen A. Douglas, and w <is a member of the 
con\-ention that nominated Douglas for the Presidency. 
During the Ci\il War, he was an earnest supporter of 
the government, and was one of the first, after the close 
of hostilities, to urge his party to a cheerful acceptance 
of the results of the struggle. He was always opposed 
to sla\-er}-, antl objected so strongK" to President Bu- 
chanan's polic)- that he declined to accept from him 
the position of United States District Attorney in Phila- 
delphia. 

At the State Democratic Convention of 1S71, he drew 
up a notable resolution, stating that " We recognize the 
binding obligations of the provisions of the Constitution 
of the United States as the\' now exist," and carried it 
after a long and heated debate. He was a member of 
the National Convention of 1S72, in which he opposed 
the nomination of Hoiace Greele\-. In local politics he 
was a leader in his part\-, and the municipal \ictories 
which it gained in 1868 and on several later occasions 
were largel}- due to his energy and sagacit_\'. His most 
notable achievement in this direction was in the nomina- 
tion, at the State Convention of 1S82, of Robert PI 
Pattison, then City Controller, as the Democratic candi- 
date for go\ernor. There had been an organized move- 
ment to nominate Hon. James H. Hopkins, of Pittsburg; 
but Mr. Cassid)- brought forward the name of the young 
Philadelphian, pointed to his admirable record as Con- 
troller, and succeeded in carrying his name to nomination 
despite a sharp opposition. Mr. Pattison was elected, and 
immediateh' appointetl Mr. Cassid}' to the office of At- 
torne\--General of the State, a post which his fine legal 
abilities and untiring energy enabled him to fill with un- 
usual brilliancy. Mr. Cassid}' died No\-ember 18, 1889. 
Socialh', he was a man of rare powers of pleasing, 
while much of his time when resting from his labors was 
gi\-en to no\el reatling, a relaxation fi'om work in which 
he found especial enjoyment. He has left a son who 
inherits his talents and abilit\-, and who promises to sus- 
tain the well-deserved rei)utation of his brilliant father. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



183 



SAMUHL L. SMEDLEY. 

SAMii-.r. LiiiirriiHir Smedi.ev, ex-Cliicf-l'-iv^inccr and 
Surve\'or of Pliiladelpliia, was burn at l-AiLjeninnt, Dela- 
ware County, Pcnnsyhania, December 2g. i8jl2. Georoe 
Sniedlc}-, the orij^inal Anieiican nieniher (if the family, 
came from Derbyshire, h'-n^larid, with the lulldweis of 
William Penn in \Ci'fi.2, and settletl (ine mile west nl the 
present town nf Media, I'ennsyl\-,mia, where he [lurchased 
land which is still nwDetl and ciilti\ atetl by his descend- 
ants. The mansion (iccnpied b\- the famih' was built 
about 17=;4 by William, the Ljrandson of Georj^e Sniedley. 
Sanuiel I,. Smcdley, Sr., the fithei' of the subject of our 
sketch, was born in ,uid occupied this mansion. 

The lad inherited his father's taste for mathematics. 
He was educated at the Friends' Academy, Westtown, 
Pennsj-h'ania, and at a classical school in Germantown, 
but was c)bliL;cd to lea\e school at hlteen \'ears of age, 
liis health beiiiL; impaired b\- o\'er-stuil_\'. At the age of 
tw'cnt_\'-one he went to Philadelphia, wheie, imiler the 
instruction of Joseph I-'clx, a noted suivexdr, he became 
an expert draughtsman, and through his suiK-rioi' knowl- 
etlge of mathematics made rajiid progress as sur\eyor 
ami engineei'. In 1856 he plotted a district of West 
Philadelphia into streets, and soon after publi^heil the 
first complete atlas of Philatlelphia. which becmie the 
standard authorit\' for man_\- _\-ears. I-'iom 1X5S lo 1S72 
lie was a member of the l^oard of City Siu'xeyors, and 
from 1872 until his resignation in 1S93, filled the res])on- 
sible position of Chief- lingineer antl Sur\e_\-or of Philadel- 
phia. The impro\'ements and constructions prosecuted 
by Mr. Sniedley include the building of the Penrose 
P\'rr)- bridge, the iron cantilexer bridge at Market Sti'eet, 
the Fairmount bridge, the new Walnut Street britlge, and 
the Girard A\-enue bridge. In the list of his construc- 
tions are, also, nimierous bridges crossing smaller streets, 
canals, and railroads. The Girard Avenue bridge is of 
iron, is one hundred feet wide, one thousand feet long, and 
cost 51,500,000. The cit}- of Philatlelphia is intersected 
b\' a number of railroads, in las'ing out which Mr. .Smed- 
ley acquired a great reputation for proficienc)-. Among 
the benefits which the city owes to him in this direction 
was the timnelling of an undergi'oimd passage for the 
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in front of p'airmount Park, 
thus securing the safet\' and bcaut_\- of the Green Street 
entrance to this grand pleasure ground. 

Largely imder his direction there were built four liun- ! 
drcd and se\ent\'-si\ miles of sewers, inclutling Cresheim 
Creek aejueduct, with the e.\traoi'dinar\' span of a one- 
lunidi'ed-aiul-sixteen-foot stone arch, which is ne.xt to 
the largest in this countr_\-. He raised the gratle of 
Market Street west of the Schuylkill, thus bringing the 
beautiful part of West Philadelphia within easy reach of 
the eenti'e of the city. Mr. Smedle\' \isited the large 
cities of Europe in 1865, and was forcibly impressed with 




the \alue of their public |)arks. Soon after his return, 
he, with other persons, achdcated the establishment of 
a park for Philadelphia. 'I'he result was the purchase 
from the J^arings, of luigland, of one hundred and fifty 
acres, known as " Lansdowne," along the Schu\-lkill. 
This became the nucleus of the lamous I'aii'niount Park. 
I le made the oiiginal sur\-e)-s ; designed and laid out 
many of the walks and dri\'es, antl from 1S72 to 1S93 was, 
(W (iff'u'ic, .\ member of the lioartl of Park Conmiissioiiers. 

Owing to a severe attack of illness in June, 1892, his 
health was so impaired that he felt obliged to resign his 
official position, and on P'ebruar)- I, 1893, tendered his 
resignation to the Director of the Department of Public 
Works. 1 lis enforced resignation was recei\ed with much 
regret b\- the cit}' officials, and resolutions of eulogy and 
of frieiulship and esteem were passed on February 6 by 
the Board of Surve\-ors. These were followed, on F\'b- 
ruary 16, by a highly api^reciative series of resolutions by 
both branches of City Councils, which s])oke flatteringly 
of him as a faithful, efficient, and trustworthj- officer, and 
tendered him the thanks of the cit\- for his many years 
of waluable public service. 

In conclusion, it ma\- be said that Mr. Smedlc}' is a 
meml)er of the American Society of Ci\il F'ngineers, and 
the luiginecrs' Club of Philadelphia, and has been a 
member of the Historical Societ\- of Pennsyhania since 
1857, and its recording secretar\- for fourteen years. He 
is also a member of the Antiquarian Society, Academy 
of Natural Sciences, F'ranklin Institute, West Philailel- 
phia Institute, Delaware County Institute of Science, the 
Union League of Philadelphia, and the American Public 
Health Association. Like his ancestors, he is a member 
of the Society of F'riends. As a public officer, he ahvays 
maintained the honor and dignity of his position, and has 
a high record for fidelity, probity, and trustworthiness. 



1 84 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




ALFRED G. BAKER. 

AM-KKn Ti. ]3akek was born in Philadelphia, Decem- 
bci' 17, 1831, his father being Michael \. Baker, a well- 
known former citizen. After a preliniiiiar\" period of 
education he entered the University of I'ennsN-Kania, 
from which he L;raduated in 185 I, taking with distinction 
the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Three \-ears afterwards 
he received the degree of Master of Arts. His college 
life was followed by a period of business life in the estab- 
lishment of Da\id S. Brown is: Co., the largest dry-goods 
commission house in Philadelphia. Mere he remained 
five years, gaining a full know ledge of that line of busi- 
ness, and in 1856 associated himself with Samuel Leon- 
ard, under the firm name of Leonard & Baker, as suc- 
cessors to the old dr\--goods firm of Sill, Arnold & 
Leonard, lie continued connected with this establish- 
ment until 1870, ill which _\-ear he retiretl from acti\e 
mercantile life. 

He hatl, meanwhile, become a director in the P'ranklin 
Lire Insurance Company, and on the death of Charles 
N. Bancker, its president, in 1869, was unanimously 
offered the presidency by the Board. He accepted the 
position, and thus became at an early age the head of 
one of the largest fire insurance corporations in Amer- 
ica. l)uring his period of service the two great fires of 
Chicago and Ixiston took place, but the company met 
all its obligations [jroniptly, and continued to pay its 
usual rate of dividends to stockholders. In December, 
1 88 1, on the completion of his fiftieth year, Mr. Baker 
voluntarily resigned his presidenc)-, though he continued 
a director, and accepted the position of chairman of the 
Linance Committee of the institution. 



He has always taken an active interest in all things 
relating to fire insurance, and was one of the originators 
of the Lire Lisurance Patrol of Philadelphia, a body of 
men who ha\e been of much service in preser\-ing prop- 
erty from the flames. The model patrol house now 
occupied b_\- the organization, No. 5 1 1 Arch Street, was 
built by him at a cost of nearly 550,000, and is leased 
to the insurance companies at a moderate rental. He 
was the first treasurer of the Patrol, which position he 
resigned after tweh'e j-ears' service. For three \x-ars in 
succession he officiated as President of the National 
Board of Lire Underwriters. 

In 1858 Mr. Baker was elected a member of the Board 
of Directors of the old Commercial Bank of this city, 
which position he resigned in 1883 to become a member 
of the Board of the Independence National Bank, of 
which he was one of the eight original corporators. He 
retired from this position in 1886, in favor of his son. 
Dr. George V . Baker, who succeeded him as a director. 
Immediate!}- afterwards he was elected a director in the 
Southwark National l^ank. in which he and his wife are 
the largest stockholders. 

During his business career, Mr. Baker has continued 
to gi\'e much time and attention to literary and artistic 
matters. He is President of the Corporators of the 
Uni\ersit}- Hospital, \'ice-President of the .Vhunni of 
the LTniversity of Pennsylvania, life-member of the His- 
torical Society of Pennsylvania, etc. At the time of 
the formation of the University Club a few years ago, he 
entered the mo\emcnt with energy, and became one of 
the original corporators antl a member of the board of 
governors. 

In June, 1884, he was elected President of the Acadeni}- 
of Music, of which corporation he holds more than half 
the capital stock. This position of president he still holds, 
devoting much attention to its duties, and taking great 
interest in dramatic and operatic art, in which he shows 
a deep appreciation. In addition to his services in the 
cause of music, he has done his share in the advance- 
ment of art, b_\- the erection of the Baker Building, Nos. 
1520 and 1522 Chestnut Street, on whose upper floors is 
a highly superior suite of studios. He erected a studio 
made wholh- of glass on the roof of the buikling, for 
sketching purposes at all hours and in all weathers, and 
eave it to the common use of the artist tenants free of 
expense. It is the only glass studio in .America. Being 
a large real estate owner, he has done much to improve 
the city b}^ handsome buildings on Chestnut and other 
streets, and in suburban Philadelphia. In 1862 he mar- 
ried Henrietta Rush Lales, and has two children, a son 
and a dau'diter. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



185 



REV. WILBUR FISK PADDOCK, D.D. 

The Reverend Wilbur Fisk Paddock, D.D., was 
bom at Cazenovia, New York, November 27, 1831, his 
father, Rev. Benjamin G. Paddock, being a lineal descend- 
ant of Zachariah Patldock who, as a minor, landed from 
the " Ma)'flower" in 1620. This stock of Puritan blood 
was augmented in after }-ears b\- frequent intermarriage 
with the descendants of the Colonial Governor, William 
Bradford — mementos of whom are still preser\c<l in the 
family. Among its more recent members are the late 
Rev. Dr. Zachariah Padtlock, of New York; liishops 
Benjamin H. Paddock, of Massachusetts, and John A. 
Paddock, (_)f Washington, and Senator Algernun .S. Pad- 
dock, of Nebraska. 

The UKither tif the subject of nur sketch was a remai-k- 
abl\' pious woman, her maiden name being Sophronia 
Perr\', of the immediate family of Commodore Oliver 
Hazartl Perr\- and Matthew Galhraith Perry — the one 
famous for his victory on Lake Paie, the (.)ther fjr his 
negotiations with Japan. 

After graduating with the highest honors from Ham- 
ilton College, New York, in 1853, and teaching one \-ear 
in Dvvight's classical school, Brooklyn, Dr. Paddock spent 
a few years in railroad and banking business in New 
York before entering the P^piscopal .Seminar)-, Alex- 
andria, Virginia. In this institution he formed a leal- 
hearted and lasting friendship with his fellow-classman 
the late Bishop Phillips Brooks, with w hom upon gradu- 
ation he was ordained by Bishop Meade, and at once be- 
came assistant minister to his former pastor and life-long 
friend the Rev. Dr. Stephen H. Tj'ng, of St. George's, 
New York. 

In April, i860, he accepted a unanimous call to the 
rectorship of St. Paul's, Cle\'eland, Ohio, and was there 
advanced to the priestln^od the June f >llowing b\- Bish(.>p 
Mcllvaine. This chmxh, noted for intelligence and in- 
fluence, within the compass of his three \-ears' ministrs', 
more than doubled in membershij); antl its .Sund.iy-school, 
from being the smallest, became the largest in Cleveland. 

Maving twice declined a request, pressed with ima- 
nimit)-, to succeed Bishop Stevens as rector of .St. An- 
drew's, Philadelphia, he finally assumetl its charge — of 
which he is now the incumbent — in April, 1863. The 
Civil War was then fiercely raging ; and feeling the 
necessity, aniiil much prevailing disloyalt)-, of i)lacing the 
church and its rector unequivocally on the side of the 
Union, at the first Fourth of July service held, he caused 
the large tkig of the Commandant of the cit\- to be 
wrapped around his pulpit, and preached a patriotic dis- 
course therefrom on "God's Purpose in our War," which 
afterward was widely circulated. 

During his rectorship of this old historic church, he 
has added 1345 persons to the roll of members; de- 
livered 4422 sermons and addresses; raised in excess 

24 




of current expenses and extended benevolences, $100,000 
fur the im])rovcment and endowment of the cliurch; and 
583,000 for the Di\inity .Schools of West Philadelphia 
and Gambler, Ohio. The Sunday-schools of St. An- 
drew's liave numbered 1200 children and teachers in a 
single year; five mission clunches ha\e been built and 
furnished in western towns; its mission chapel on W'ash- 
ington Avenue — the pioneer of spiritual blessing to tliat 
section of the cit\- — has become the Church of the Mes- 
siah ; a spacious and beautifid Parish House has been 
erected adjacent to St. Andrew's, and the unsightlj- burial 
grounds converted into a garden cemeter\- — which latter 
achie\ement inaugurated the series of impro\ements 
which Iku'c benefited Paghth .Street during recent years. 
Great interest and blessing have gathered about his .Sun- 
da}- evening e\'angelistic ser\'ices, held a large portion 
of each year in St. Andrew's and participated in b\- the 
most eminent of clerg}- and Iait\-. 

Dr. Paddock's own preaching is marketl b\- singular 
devoutness antl adherence to evangelical truth ; his pas- 
toi'al relations b\- s}'mpathetic and affectionate esteem. 
He has been a vigorous, courteous contestant for the 
doctrines and usages designated " Low Church." 

In 1 866 Dr. Paddock spent fifteen months abroad, 
visiting the various countries of Europe, Egypt, Pales- 
tine, and jVsia Alinor. Among his publications have 
been : " l';)es and P^ars ^Vbroad," " Half Century of 
Church Life," "Anniversary Discourses," "Children's 
Pra)-er ,uul Praise Book," and many occasional sermons. 

For a generation past scarcely has there been an enter- 
prise enhancing the good name or material, moral, or re- 
ligious welfare of Philadelphia to which he has not con- 
tributed his effective support. His career is less marked 
than some by imposing mountain peaks ; yet has this 
compensation — the whole plateau of his life is lofty. 



1 86 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




THOMAS W COPE. 

Thomas 1'\m Cope was burn in Lancaster Count)-, 
Pennsylvania, on Aut^ust 26, 1768, of a family belonging 
to the Societ\- of l^'riends, in the principles of which sect 
lie was strictl)- etlucated. fie began business in I'hila- 
delphia in i/ip, his trade quickh- expantling, so that In' 
1807 lie had become a wealthy antl prominent shijiping 
merchant in tlie Liverpool trade. In that \-ear lie built 
his first ship, which he named the " Lancaster," in honor 
of his nati\e county. His business continued to increase, 
and in i8ji he established the house of Thomas 1'. Cope 
& Son, and started the first regular line of packet-ships 
between Philadelphia and Liverpool, the " Liverpool 
Packet Line," which was composed of the " Lancaster," 
of 290 tons, anil the " Tuscarora," of 397 tons. This 
line was sustained through a continueil series of adverse 
circumstances in subsequent years, circumstances which 
threatened for a time the destruction of the foreign com- 
merce of Philadelphia, anti which continuetl till the break- 
ing out of the Ci\il War. 

Shij) after shi[) was adtled to the fleet controlled b\' 
the Co])es, including the " Montezuni.i," the " .\lgon(|uin," 
the " Monongahela," and the " .Susquehanna," \-essels 
which were long famous. To these were in after )-ears 
addetl the " Tonawanda," the " \V\'oming," and the 
"Thomas P. Cope," all ships of the largest size. Sub- 
.sequentl)' another son was added to the firm, and when 
Mr. Cope e\entuall\' retired from business, the fu'm name 
became Ilenr)- and Alfred Cope, the business falling into 
the hands of his two sons. It afterwards became known 
as II. & A. Cope & Co., and at a later date as Cope 



Brothers, the members of the firm now being Francis 
and Thomas P. Cope, sons of Henry Cope. The original 
Thomas P. Cope died in 1854, leaving behind him a high 
character for spotless integrity as well as for commercial 
ability. 

Mr. Cope was the contemporary of Stephen Girard 
and his rival in the shij^ping trade, the two largely di- 
viding between them the leading commercial interests of 
Philadelphia, lie continued a member of the .Societ\- 
of Friends, of the C)rthodox section, and was a member 
of Germantown Meeting. Much of his wealth was ex- 
pended in charities, \\hile his time was largely given to 
public interests, lie ser\ing at successi\c inter\-als in the 
Select Council <if the city, in the Penns_\-l\ania Legisla- 
ture, and in the L'nited States House of Representa- 
tives, as one of the members from Philadelphia. In 
addition to these offices, he served as president of the 
board of commissioners of the Girard Estate, and as a 
director of the Girard College, while for many j'ears he 
filled the post of president of the Board of Tratle of 
Philadelphia, and for more than a quarter of a centur}' 
occupied a similar position in the Mercantile Library 
Compan}', of which he was one of the originators and 
principal prouK iters. 

To his foresight, liberality, and ceaseless energ)-, Phila- 
delphia was principally indebted for its first abundant 
suppK' of pure water from the Schuylkill, in those early 
da\-s before the growth of p(ipulation rendered an exten- 
sive system of water-works necessary. A single steam- 
engine then ser\ed the purjaose, by which the water was 
pumped from the .Schu)-lkill, and conveyed in wooilen 
pipes to a rescrxdii' in a building situated in the then 
Centre Square, at the intersection of Broad and Market 
Streets, the locality of the present City Hall. P^rom this 
point it was distributed by wooden pipes throughout the 
city. This plan w.as first put into successful operation 
in 1 80 1. The oiiginal pipes are still occasionally ex- 
posed in the excavation of the streets, and remain in a 
good state of preservation. 

When the proposition to gi\-e Philadelpihia a park was 
broached, Mr. Cope took an active interest in the ijroject, 
and may be classed among its founders, since he and 
his brother Henr_\- contributed twenty thousand dollars 
towards the purchase of the Sedgeley estate, the first 
important acquisition in the expansion of the park. He 
also gave twenty-fi\-e thousand dollars to the Zoological 
Society, and forty thousand dollars to the Institute for 
Colored Youth, for the purpose of founding a scientific 
school. In all he was among the most prominent of 
the public-spirited men of Philadelphia. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



187 



GF(3RGE M. DALLAS. 

W'lC h.u'c, in a previous sketch, Ljivcii the life story of 
Alexander James Dallas, tlie distint^Liisliecl la\v)-er, states- 
man, and author, of whose celebrated " Reports of Pennsyl- 
\-ania Cases'' Lord ALuisfield, the eminent IuiL;'Iish jurist, 
says that the}- "do credit to the Court, the Bar, and the re- 
porter." He came to Philadel[)hia from Jamaica in 17S3, 
and on July lO, 1792, was born in that city his equally ilis- 
tinL;uished son, (ieorge Mifflin Dall.is, who was destined 
to emulate the honors of his father's career as a lawyer 
antl statesman. He was enteretl as a student in Princeton 
College, from which he i^ratluatcd with the highest honors 
of his class in 1 8 10. Subsequently he read law in his 
fithei''s office, and was admitted to the Ijar, b_\- special 
fo\"(jr of the Court, before he was twent_\'-one )x-ars of age. 

This haste in admission was in order to enable liim to 
accept a political position which had been offered him. 
He had been interested in politics finm an earU' age, fol- 
lowing his father in .ulopting the Jefferstmian principles 
of national policy. In 1813, the year of liis admission 
to the bar. President Madison sent Albert Gallatin to St. 
Petersburg as one of the commissioners to negotiate a 
treaty of peace with Great Britain, with the aid of the 
Emperor of Russia. Mr. Gallatin took \'oung Dallas 
with him as his j)ri\"ate secretar_\- ; and \\ hen the British 
government declined the mediation of the Czar, Mr. 
Dallas was sent by the commissioners to London to ar- 
range for a meeting elsewhere, (jhent was the pl.ice 
selected; but bef ire the conclusion of the treat)-, which 
did not take place till a _\ear later, ^Ir. Dallas returned 
to the Llnited States, bringing with him the first proposals 
of Great Britain, which were so unjust as to re\i\e the ! 
war-spirit in this countiA-. 

Mr. Dallas now for a short period assisted his fither [ 
in his arduous duties as Secretary of the Treasur)', and 
then returned to Philadelphia, where he entered upon 
the practice of his profession. He made rapid progress 
before the bar, and soon became s(Tlicitor for the Lhiited 
States Bank. His first political oration was delivered 
Jul}' 4, 181 5, in \M'ndication of the course of the Lhiited 
States in the contro\ers\- with Gieat ]?ritain. In 1817 he 
was appointed Deput}- Attorney-General for the cit\- of 
Philadelphia, and in 1828 was elected Mayor of that city. 
This ol'fice he soon resigned to accept that of United 
States District Attorne\-. In 1 831 he was elected by 
the Pennsyh-ania Legislature to the .Senate of the United 
States, being one of the youngest members of that body. 
His first speech in the Senate was delixeretl in LmU'iO'' 
1832, and was in advocacy of the renewal of the charter 
of the United States Bank, which he continued to sup- 




port till its passage. This charter had originalK* been 
granted through his fither's influence. 

In 1837 President \'an Buren appointeil him Minister 
to Russia, where he remained till October, 1839, being 
then recalled at his own re()uest. The four }-ears fol- 
h.iwing were spent in the practice of the law in Philadel- 
})hia, he tleclining the olfice of L'nite(.l .States Attorne)'- 
General. In 1844 he was elected Vice-President of the 
United States, as the Democratic candidate for that high 
office. Lentil this time, Mr. Dallas had been an ad\-ocate 
of protection, but when the tariff act of 1846, a free- 
trade measure, came before the Senate, he, as presiding 
officer of that bod_\', gaxe the casting \-ote in its favor, 
thereby repealing the protective tariff of 1842. His 
reason for this vote, as gi\-en to the Senate, was that he 
was con\'inced that a majorit}' of the States desired a 
change in the tariff and that he "did not feel at liberty 
to counteract b\' his single \-ote the general will." 

.At the end of his term of office he returned with 
alacrit\' to the practice of his profession at the Phila- 
delphia bar, but in 1S57 was appointed b\- President 
Buchanan Minister to luigland. In this official position 
he showed great skill in the management of the Central 
American question. He returnetl in 1 861, and afterwards 
spent his life in privac}-, though openly declaring, during 
the Civil War, his detestation of the " pernicious sorceries 
of nullification .md secession." His experiences in Lon- 
don were embodied in a " Series of Letters from London 
in the Years 1856-1860," published in 1869. He died 
,it Philadelphia, December 31, 1864. He was an eminent 
law\-er, a distingaiished statesman, an able diplomatist, 
and a refined and cultivated gentleman. 



i88 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




MARK RICHARDS MUCKLE. 

Colonel Mark Richards Mucki.e, business manager 
and cashier of the Public Ledger, was born in Pliiladel- 
phia, September lo, 1825, his father, Michael Muckle, 
a clock-maker of Neukircli, (icrmaii)-, haxinL,^ cniiL^ratetl 
to America antl settled in this cit)- early in the present 
century. His mother came from Kurzini;en, Baden, and 
reached this countr}- after a voj-at^^e full of disastrous and 
distressing adventure. Michael Muckle became a wood- 
carver in Philadelphia, and executed in wood a number 
of remarkable works, such as the " Cimflagration of 
Moscow" and the " Treaty of Ghent." 

Mr. Muckle began his education in a German school, 
and was afterwards sent to a Philadelphia public school. 
Dui'ing his school-days he filled se\'eral business posi- 
tions ; and, having gained some practical knowledge of 
book-keeping, and received some school training in this 
art, he at length obtained a place in the office of the 
Public Ledger as errand-boy and assistant cashier. This 
was in 1842, in the early years of that well-known paper, 
with which Mr. Muckle has remained connected for more 
than half a century. He was then but seventeen years 
of age, but his diligence and abilit)' soon raised him to 
the position of cashier and business manager of the 
paper. In this position Mr. Childs found and retained 
him on purchasing the Ledger in 1864, and had in him 
an invaluable assistant and associate in building up the 
paper to its later high standard of success. 

Mr. Muckle soon became prominent in public life. He 
had unusual powers of oratory, and a knowledge of the 
German as well as of the ]{nglish language, so that he 
acquired great influence among the German population 
of the city. He also early became a member of the 
Masonic and Odd-Fellows organizations, in both of which 
he rose to the highest positions. 



In 1S46, during the Mexican War, President Polk 
offered him a commission as second lieutenant in the 
Marine Corps, and in 1 85 2 Governor Bigler appointed 
him on his staff with the rank of colonel. Politically, he 
is a Democrat, antl has been sought by his party as candi- 
date for mayor and se\cral other city offices, while in 
1884 his name was strongly urged for the post of Min- 
ister to Germany. This was supportetl b_\' the influence 
of the Germans, among whom Colonel Muckle has 
alwa}'s been highly regarded. In 1853 he became a 
member of the German Society, was an acti\e member 
of its building committee, and for thirteen years was 
vice-president of the society. I le was one of the founders 
of the German Hospital in i860, and is the only sur- 
vi\'or of its original board of officers. I""or many \'ears 
he has been its vice-president. During the Franco- 
Prussian W'ar he was treasurer of the Relief Society, 
which foru arded to Germany nearly ^50,000 to assist the 
widows ami orphans of slain soldiers, and was an acti\-e 
promoter of the Peace Festival held in 1871. Shortly 
afterwards he was appointed to collect contributions in 
America for the Imperial Uni\ersit_\- Library, at Strass- 
burg, which had been ruined during the war. In this 
he was so active and successfid that he succeetled in 
gathering antl forwarding over thirteen thousand \'ol- 
umes up(i)i a great variety of subjects. P'or this able 
service the luiiperor of German}' conferred upon him in 
1874 the Order of tlie Crown, and in 1883 further hon- 
ored him with tlie Military Order of the Red Eagle, the 
second highest order in the emperor's gift. 

In the two orders of which we have alread}- spoken, 
the Odd-P"ellows and the Masons, Colonel Muckle has 
risen to the highest distinction, he having for years 
ser\-ed both ordei's in the highest posts of honor and 
duty. He is a member of the Art Association of the 
Masonic Temple, organized for the purpose of orna- 
menting the interior of that iU)ble edifice. The Society 
for the Prexention of Cruelty to Animals owed to him 
its origin, and has made him its vice-president. He was 
one of the organizers of the American District Telegraph 
Company, and is its secretary and treasurer, and has been 
President of the German-American Title and Trust Corn- 
pan}- since it began business. 

Colonel Muckle took an acti\e part in the originatiun 
and furtherance of the Centennial Exposition, proposing 
to build there a mamnKith concert hall, with a great 
organ. 1 \c has long been connected with the various 
German singing societies of the city, being himself a 
vocalist. The other societies to which lie belongs are 
ver}- numerous. As cashier of the Ledger, he has been 
selected as treasurer of a number of charitable relief 
funds, and has distributed great sums of monc}' to the 
suffering. He was married in 1850, and has two sons 
and one daughter liviuLT. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



189 



ISAAC A. SHEPPARD. 

Isaac A. Siikppakd was born in Cumberland County, 
New Jersc)-, Jul_\- 11. i.Sj6, antl obtained such mcai^rc 
cducation as was tn l)c had in the ciiuntr\' scliools of 
that period. At the aL;e of ele\ en he was put to woi-k 
on a farm, his school term now bcinL,^ restrictetl to the 
three winter muntlis. Mis parents rcmo\'ed to Pliiladel- 
[ihia in 1840, w heiv liis nicither socin after died :md thc 
famii}' was scattered, Isaac beini;^ thrown on liis own 
resources. It was liis desire to learn a ti'ade, but busi- 
ness was then L;reatly tlepressetl antl eniplii)-nient difficult 
to obtain, and he was forceil into ,1 variet)' nf temporary 
occupations, lie served as errand boy in .i sin >e store, 
as cabin boy on a coasting vessel, worked in a bakery, 
and trieil \-ai'ious other lines of l.ibor until 1S4:;, in which 
)'ear he was finall_\' successful in obtaining a situation in 
a brass and iron foundry to learn the moulder's trade. 
Shortl)- afterwards his einploxer died, and the lousiness 
was closetl, but in January-, 1844, he became an ap[5ren- 
tice in the stove and liollow-ware foundry of Charles 
W. Warnick ^s: Co., antl de\'oted himself to a thorough 
master)' of the business. He proved so able and intel- 
ligent that on the e.\|)ir.itiiin of his term of ai)prentice- 
ship the fu'in offered him continueil employment, with 
the assurance that he shoukl nc\er lack woik while the)' 
had it. He remained with the firm until its dissolution 
on the death of its leading member. 

During this j)eriod Mr. Shcppard devoted most of 
his evenings during four years to study, joined several 
musical and beneficial associations, and took part in or- 
ganizing a savings and building association, among the 
earliest of those formetl in the cit\'. Throut^rh its aid 
he succeeded in obtaining a building lot on Sixth Street 
below Girard Avenue, built a house, antl, marrying in 
1850, has since resided there. He continued to work at 
his trade until 1S59, when he joined with a number of 
others in the establishment of a stove foundry at Seventh 
Street and Girard Av'cnue, the firm being known as Isaac 
A. Sheppard & Co. 

The progress of the new firm was not a j^rosperoirs one. 
It met with determined op[)osition from older establish- 
ments, which sought, by offering their goods at reduced 
prices, to drive it out of business. But Mr. Sheppard 
had the useful qualities of industry and pertinacity. He 
Iiatl been through hard times before, and hekl on indom- 
itably, supported by his partners, so that by the end t>f 
the third year they succeeded in firmly establishing their 
business. Hming this periotl of stress and strain, Mr. 
Sheppard was engaged also in public duties. In 1858 
he was elected by a large majorit)- to the Pennsylvania 
Legislature b)' the People's part)', and became an acti\e 
and influential member of that bod)-. He was twice re- 
elected, and in January, 1861, became chairman of the 
Committee of Ways and Means, in which he strongly sup- 




ported all measui'es fir the good of the goxernment, and 
was largel)' instrumental in provitling for the exigencies 
of the war. In March, 1861, he became Speaker, //'c 
/(■;//., ami f u' a considerable [leriod filled that office with 
dignit)' antl cretlit. He was chairman tif the Committee 
on the ;\ttack ujioii Citizens of Penns)'l\ania in passing 
through Baltimore ci/ route to Washington, and matle an 
able report thereon, antl was a member of the committee 
that preparetl and reported the liill untlei" ^\ hose recom- 
mendations the Penn.sylvania Reserves were organized. 

ThroLighout the war he ga\'e much attention to his 
business, which continuetl to grow until the works in 
Philadelphia became too small for the rapidly increasing 
demand, antl in 1866 were supplemented by a foundr)' 
in Baltimore, its purjiose being to take advantage of the 
demanti likel)' to ru'ise from the .South in its process of 
industrial regeneration. B)' 1871 the business of the 
Philadel[3hia fountlr)' hatl so increased that new facilities 
became imperative, and a square of groimtl of o\er two 
and a lialf acres in extent, between Thirtl antl P'ourth 
Streets, Berks Street and Montgomer)' A\cnue, was pur- 
chased. The works erected there are \er)' capacious, 
and the firm turns out a great number of sto\'es annually, 
in addition to heaters, ranges, antl \arious other castings. 
The)' offer a striking example of the fruits of energ)- 
antl perse\'erance. 

In 1870 Mr. Sheppard took part in the organization of 
the National Security Bank, of which he became vice- 
president. He was electetl b)' Councils a trustee of the 
Northern Liberties Gas Works, and in 1S79 was ap- 
pointctl a member of the Board of P^ducation, of which 
for several )'ears he has been president. He has long 
been a member of the Masonic, Odd-I'ellows, antl Master 
Mechanics orders, and his labors in the field of charity 
have been \'ery earnest and useful. 



190 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




EFFINGHAM B. MORRIS. 

F.FFiNfiiiAM BucKLia MdKKis, law \'cr, and Prcsiclcnt 
of The Girard Trust Compaii)-, was Ijorn in I'liiladelpliia, 
August 23, 1856. He is a sun of Israel \V. Morris, a 
direct descendant nf Sanuiel Morris, Ca])tain of the first 
Cit>' Ti-oop. Philadelphia Cavalry, clurinL;' the Revolution, 
aiul of Anthon)- Morris, who was the second Maj'or ol 
Philadelphia and one of the Justices of the Supreme Court 
after the foundation of the colon\- b}- Penn. Mr. Morris 
has in his office a writ of attachment dated 3d month, 
igth, 1698, signed by this Judge Anthon}- Morris, issued 
"by the King's authority in the Proprietor's name," anil 
directed to the Sheriff of Philadelphia Count)-. 

Mr. Morris was educated in Dr. Faires' school in tiiis 
city, and was graduated b)^ the University of Pennsyl- 
vania in 1875. At college he stootl midway in his 
classes, taking good but not first lionors, ( )utside of 
the lecture rooms he, however, held a higli rank in all 
that pertained to athletics and college life. Upon gradua- 
tion he received the highest honors which can be awarded 
a college man, being unanimously selected to recei\'e the 
'AVootlen .Spoon," that traditional emblem of good feel- 
ing which from time immemorial is gi\en each \'ear to 
the most popular man of the class. 

He was admitted to the bar in |nne, 187S, and ac(iuired 
a lucrative practice in estate and corporation work. P"or 
a number of years he was the general attorne\'fir the 
Lehigh Valley Railroad and counsel for The (iirard 
Trust Coni[)any, and other corporations; he rarely went 
to the criminal courts, his most notable case in this line 
being his defence, with Walter (icorge .Smith, ICsc]., of 
Theodore J. McGurk, charged with a murtler occurring 
in 1 86 1, for which McGurk was not brought to trial 
until 1880. Two trials of this case were had, resulting 
fmally in saving the pi'isoner's life. 



In 1878, Mr. Moi'ris deliveretl an address at the 
Acadeni)- of Music on receiving the degree of Master 
of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, which was 
favorably received at the time owing to the grace of his 
tlelivery as well as the fjrce of .the matter presented. 
His subject was " The Trade of Politics," and the address 
was widely copied in the newspapers of that date. His 
[ii_>litical career has been confined to ser\'ice as Common 
Councilman of Philadelphia, when he represented the 
Fighth AV'ard f;>r two years as the candiil.ite for the 
"Committee of One Huntlretl" in 1880. In 1882 he de- 
clined a re-election. In 1883 he was again requested to 
take part in practical politics by men in both parties, and 
was elected a Trustee of the Gas Works, defeating David 
II. Fane, his competitor, b_\' a large majoi'ity of both 
branches of Council. His course in the Trust was 
marked by abs<ilLite independence, antl he made a num- 
ber of practical reforms in the methods of what at the 
time was the most powerful political organization in Phila- 
delphia. 

By appointment of the Ignited States District Couit, 
Mr. Morris served with Honorable Frederick P'raley as 
Receiver of the Schu\-lkill Navigation Company, and 
was instrumental in obtaining for the holders of the 
securities of that corporation, who embrace many of the 
oldest Philadelphia families, substantial recognition in 
the last reorganization of the Reading Railroad. 

Mr. Morris has been a Director of the I'ourth Street 
National Bank almost since its foundation, and is a Di- 
rector of the Pennsylvania Fire Insurance Company. 
He is also a Manager of the Pennsyh'ania Hospital, the 
oldest hospital in America. 

He is a Director of The Union League and is a 
member of the Philadelphia Chib, also of the Countr)-, 
the Univcrsit}', the Senior ami Junior Legal Clubs, and 
several others. In 1887, he was elected President of 
The Girard Trust Company, the oldest trust company, 
with one exception, in Pennsyl\-ania. At the time of his 
election he was the youngest bank president in Philadel- 
phia. Under his management The Girard Trust Com- 
pany has erected its present well-known office building 
at Broad and Chestnut Streets. Mr. Morris is also per- 
sonally trustee of several large estates; among others, 
that of Honorable William Bingham, who represented 
Pennsylvania in the last century in the United States 
Senate, and whose estate embraced large hoklings of land 
all over the country. This estate has been in the charge 
j of pi'ominent PennsyK-anians as trustees since Mr. Bing- 
' ham's death earh' in the [^resent century, and many mil- 
lions have been distributed from it to the Baring family, 
of Lontloii, and the WiUings, of Pliiladelphia. 

In 1879, Mr. Morris married Pollen Douglas, )'oungest 
daughter of H. N. Burroughs. They have four children. 
His home is in Montgomery County. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



191 



JOSEPH G. DARLINGTON. 

Till-: business tliat is now conductctl under the firm 
name of Joseph G. DarHnt;ton & Co. had its fountlation 
laid h)- Mr, John W. Thomas in 1830, and has steadily 
grown, until to-da)' it stands forth as one of the larijest 
dr)--goods establishments in the coinitry. 

Joseph G. Darlington was born in the cit)' of Pitts- 
burg, but as his parents remo\'ed to l'hiladelphi<i six 
months after his birth, where he has li\ed e\'er since, he 
can almost claim to be a native of rhiladel|)hia. His 
father was of English Quaker stock, his mother was a 
New York lad)-, whose ancestors were among the eari\- 
settlers of the American Colonies, dating in a direct line 
back to if^jO, whose descendants served as distinguished 
officers among the defenders of the Colonies and in the 
War of the American Revolution. 

Mr. Darlington was educated at the P'riends' School 
on Walnut .Street above Si.xth, and after his graduation 
entered the silk importing house of Dale, Ross & 
Withers, wiiere he served an apprenticeship of four 
years. As a contrast of the condition of affairs when 
he was a boy with what boys expect to-da\-, it is inter- 
esting to note that for the first year of his apprentice- 
ship with Messrs. Dale, Ross & Withers he received a 
salar\- of fift_\' dollars, and during si.x montlis of the year 
was obliged to work until ele\en and twelve o'clock at 
night. The second )'ear his salary was seventy-five 
dollars, the third year one hundred tlollars, and the 
fourth ye.ir one lumdred and se\ent_\'-fi\'e dollars. 

Upon the breaking out of the Ci\-il W^ar, Mr. Dar- 
lington enlisteil in the militia as a member of the 
Hamilton Rifles, B. Andrews Knight, Captain. .Sub- 
sequently he enlisted in Company "A," Gray Reserves, 
Captain Ke)-ser. Upon being mustered out of service he 
entered the store of the late John W. Thomas, on North 
Second Street, at a salar\- of three luuidi'ed dollars per 
annum. 

Mr. Thomas was in ever)- respect a ti'ue t)-pe of the 
American merchant. Throughout his entire business 
career he was actuated and controlled b)- the \-er\- 
highest sense of mercantile honor. He inculcatetl in 
those around him the princijjles that absolute honest)- 
and truthfulness are the sure antl onl\- foundations upon 
which to build a character. Following the early train- 
ing which Mr. Darlington had receixed as a bo)- with 
Messrs. Dale, Ross & Withers, his association with Mr. 
Thomas was most \-aluable. The emplo)-er believed in 
the bo\-, anil the bo\' most thoioughlv believed in, 




respected, and loved his eniployer ; each \-ear the ties 
between the two became stronger, and Mr. Thomas 
finall)- showed his appreciation of liis clerk by making 
him his partner, the business being carried on under the 
firm name of John W. Thomas & Co. This firm was 
dissolved on the 31st of Januar)-, 1S74, when Mr. Thomas 
retired fron-i active business ; but until the da)" of his 
death he was almost a dail)- visitor, and retained his 
desk in Mr. Darlington's store. 

The character of the business is peculiar, anil differs 
fr<;>m almost every other dr)--goods establishment in the 
fact that it confines its operations exclusively to the very 
highest class of merchandise. The firn-i has an office in 
Paris, one in Lyons, and connections in London, Vienna, 
and Berlin, and it frequenth- occurs that goods of Knglish 
and Continental manufacture are exhibited in Philadelphia 
before the\- can be seen in London and Paris. In addition 
to the completely organized offices in Paris and L)'ons, 
from four to si.x special buyers are sent to Europe annu- 
all)-. It is a positive rule of the firm never to indulge in 
any sensational movements, and never to permit any 
statement that is not absolutely true, but to conduct 
its business upon the ver)' highest plane of mercantile 
correctness. 

The building occupied b)- the firm is a model of a 
mercantile establishment. It is complete in ever)- detail, 
antl its organization is composed of men of the highest 
order of abilit)-. 

In its \-arious departments the establishment gives em- 
plo)-ment to about five hundred persons. 



192 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




WILLIAM M. SINGERLY. 

William Miskev Singeklv, the well-known proprietor 
of the Pliiladclphia Record, was born in this city, December 
27, 1832, and educated in the Pliiladclphia public schools, 
graduatiuL; from the Mit^h School in 1850. Immediately 
afterwards he obtainetl a ]iosition in the commission and 
produce house of J. Talnier ^' Ci;i., on Market Street 
wharf where he remained ten \-ears, L^ainini; a thoroui^dl 
knowledge of business and unusual facility as an ac- 
countant. After leaving this situation, he went to 
Chicago, and became there a commission merchant, a 
business in which he was [progressing satisfactorily, when 
his father, who was a large stockholder in the German- 
town Passenger Railwa)' Company, recalled him to Phila- 
delphia for the [uirpose of becoming manager of this 
street railwa_\'. 

Lie found the matl in an unsatisfactory condition, but 
in a year's time, by enforcing econonn- and improxing 
the service, he con\erted it from a losing into a paying 
concern. One of his first measures was the purchase, at 
a small price, of the Girard A\-enue road. I\Ian\' looked 
on this as an unwise proceeding, but the result has full\^ 
proved the wisdom of the purchase. Mr. Singerly's 
energy and ability as a manager pro\ed so great that 
eventually the sole control of the road came into his 
hands. Liis father died in 1878, leaving him his stock, 
valued at 5750,000. This stock was afterwards sold to 
the Work syndicate for 51,500,000, and Mr. Singerly 
retired from street railway management. 

His energies found pla\- in several other directions. 
In 1877 he purchased the Record newspaper, which at 



that time had the small circulation of 5200, but which 
he has rim up to a daily issue of over 100,000 copies. 
In 1881-82 was erected the beautiful and substantial 
Record building, on Chestnut above Ninth Street, which 
is looked upon by journalists as one of the most com- 
plete newspaper establishments in the countr}-. Politi- 
cally, Mr. Singerly is a Democrat, and his paper is the 
leading exponent of Democrac)- in this city. He has 
always been prominent in politics, and has frequently 
served his part}- in State and national conventions, and 
in other important lines of duty. 

Another of Mr. Singerly's enterprises has been in the 
building business. In conjunction with the Singerly es- 
tate, he owned seventy-five acres of land in the Twenty- 
eighth Ward, on which he has built a very large number 
of dwelling-houses, at a cost running far up into the mil- 
lions. This building operation is probably the largest 
ever attempted b\' an\- one indi\itlual in this cit\', the 
necessar}' material for the undertaking being in part pro- 
vided by a brick-\-ard which has a capacity of 60,000 
bricks a day, antl an immense planing-mill for the supply 
of lumber. He has, besides, an interest in the knittinsf- 
mills at lughth and Dauphin Streets, which have been 
greatly developed since his connection with them, being 
now the largest producers of "Jerseys" in the world, 
while this product is of the finest quality. In addition, 
he owns a gleaner ami bimler factor}- at Norristown, and 
a jjaper-mill at Fair Hill, Mar}-land, both with a large 
production. Another of his enterprises was the purchase 
of the old Masonic Temple on Chestnut Street and the 
building of the beautiful Temple Theatre and I'lgyptian 
Musee. These have since been destroyed by fire, and 
replaced by a group of the handsomest banking buildings 
in the cit}'. 

Impaired health and his father's advice induced him, in 
1S72, to purchase a small farm in Montgomer}- County, 



to which he remo\-ed in 1 8; 



L'rom this small begin- 



ning has grown, b}- successive additions, the splendidly 
developed "Record Farm" of seven hundred acres, wliich 
is to-day the most extensive and elaborate high-grade 
stock-firm in the countr}', Mr. Singerly's love of fine 
animals having led him to eniplo}- his countr}- life in this 
direction. His stock includes what is undoubtedly the 
finest herd of thorough-bred Holstein cattle in America,, 
and an extensive herd of high-grade Cotswold sheep. 
He is a lover of horses, also, and in Kentucky is inter- 
ested in a fine breed of trotting stock, whose powers are 
being steadily improved. Mr. Singerly is still in the 
prime of life, sociable, but fond of domestic life, while 
his time is largely occupied in the many interests in which 
he has engaged. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



193 



JOHN P. GREEN. 

Captain Jhhx I'uiiH Gkekx was burn in Philadelphia, 
July 31, I'^^jQ- Mc was ciUicated at the ni;-;h SohnnP 
passing; throui;h all the grades and graduating with 
credit. During his cnurse of study at the High ScIiddI 
he applied himself tn the study of short-hand writing at 
a time when stenography was in its infancy. Foreseeing 
the future importance of the art, he bent eveiy energ}- 
to perfecting himself in it, and left his class a thorough 
stenographer. To this accomplishment he attributes 
much of his earl\- success in life. Upon leaxing school, 
he commenced the stud\- of the law, and in due time 
secured admission to the Philadeljihia bar, where he had 
won considerable prominence when the call to arms 
startled the land in 1861. 

At the breaking out of the war he entered the Union 
army as a \olunteer, and ser\ed until the end of the 
Rebellion, returning with the title of captain and assist- 
ant adjutant-general of the staff of General Thomas L. 
Kane, who commanded the famous brigade known as 
the Pennsylvania Bucktails. 

On Januar\- 10. 1S65, Captain Green entered the ser- 
vice of the Pennsyh-ania Railroad Compan_\- as pri\ate 
secretar\' to Thomas A. Scott, at that time first vice- 
president of the companw I'rom January I, 1866, to 
February I, I 868, he was sccretar)" and treasurer of the 
Milwaukee and Minnesota Railway Company. He re- 
turned, howe\er, to the service of the PennsyKania Rail- 
road, Jul\- I, 1869, resuming his former position with Mr. 
Scott, which he held till 1874, when, by appointment of 
the board of directors, he was promoted to the position 
of assistant to the president. After holding this re- 
sponsible position for eight \-ears, he was, on the 1st of 
October, 1882, made fourth \ice-president of the Penn- 
sylvania Railroad, on June i, 1886, was promoted to 
third \ice-president, and on March i, 1893, he received 
a furtlier promotion to the office of second vice-president, 
which position he now holds. Under the organization 
of the Penns\-l\ania Railroad Compan\-, the second \-ice- 
president has general charge of the accounting depart- 
ment, and also exercises a special supervision over the 




lines owned or controlled b\' the Penns\-l\ania Com[)an\' 
west of Pittsburg. 

Captain Green's career thoroughly illustrates the pos- 
sibilities open to all young men who are not afraid of 
energetic work. He is a liartl worker in all that the 
term implies, and is what is in ever\- sense a self-made 
man, ha\-ing had to rel\- entirely upon his own ability for 
the pnimineiit place he now holds in the ser\ice tif the 
greatest railroad corporation in the world. 

With all his incessant labor, howexer, the Captain 
finds time to enjoy life. He belie\"es in keejiing up the 
physical system to as high a standard as the mental, and 
conscquenth' de\otes much of his leisure time to the game 
of cricket. There is no greater enthusiast for the healthy 
sport to be f)und in Philadelphia. He is captain of the 
famous Belmont Cricket Club, regarding the success of 
which it is not necessar\- to enter into detail here. Cap- 
tain Green is usually f umtl [)la\ing in the \eteran elexen 
against Germantown, or other leading club, and fre- 
quently manages to capture double figures. In truth, 
he works to win, in amusement as well as in more seri- 
ous duties, and usually attains the success which abilit}-, 
energ}", and ambition are sure to command. 



194 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




PHILIP SYNG PHYSICK, M.D. 

EnML'ND I'lnsicK, one of the agents of tlie Penn 
f,niiil\- in America, emigrated to that country about the 
miiidle of tile eigliteenth century, and resided in I'hila- 
deiphia, wliere his son, Philip S_\ng, was born in 176S. 
His education began in the P^riends' Academy, then 
kept by Robert Proud, the author of the tirst " History 
of Pennsylvania," and was conchided at the Universit)- 
of Penns\-h'ania, fri ini which he graduated as Bachelor 
of Arts in 1785. Immediately afterwards he began his 
medical studies in the College of Medicine. 

The young student would gladly ha\e relinciuished 
his chosen profession had his father jiermitted. The 
surgical operations he was obliged to witness proved 
too much fir his ner\es, and he begged to be allowed 
to adopt some other pursuit, liut his fither was in- 
flexible, and the young man returned to his studies, 
which he pursued with the most earnest diligence. His 
shrinking distaste fir dissectinn and practical surger\-, 
however, induced him to devote his attention to the 
principles more than to the practical application of his 
art, and in this direction he gained a wide and thorough 
knowledge. His studies continued for three years and 
a half, under Ur. Adam Kuhn, Professor of Botany and 
Materia Medica. At the end of this time he w.is well 
qualified to graduate, but preferred to obtain the advan- 
tages of European stud\- before attempting practice. In 
1789 he became a pupil of Dr. John Hunter, surgeon 
of St George's Hospital, London. When asked b_\- the 
father what text-books his son sliould read. Dr. Hunter 
led him into the dissecting-room, pointed to the bodies 
lying read)- fir the knife, anti said, "These are the books 
your son has to study ; the others are fit for very little." 

The young student soon made his diligence and ability- 
felt. He was quickly made assistant in experiments, and 



soon afterwanls elected house surgeon, in which he pro\-ed 
himself emineiltl)- capable. He had an opportunity to 
gain a great practice in London, Dr. Hunter eventually 
offering him a residence in his own house and a partnership 
in his Inisiness. But he luul fully tlecided to return to 
Philadelphia, and, after staying two and a half )'ears in 
London, repaired to P'dinburgh, where he studied for a 
year. Then, with a tliplnma from the London College of 
Surgeons and the degree of Doctor of Medicine from ILdin- 
burgh, he s(jught his nati\'e land, reaching Philadelphia 
in the autiuiui ut 1792, \\hen twent_\--tour )-ears of age. 

He dill not tind the city of his birth a favorable one 
for the beginning of his practice. This city, then the 
centre nf medical instruction, was well proxitled with 
able [3h\-sicians, and the new graduate, not having the 
art of forcing himself into notice, suffered severe discour- 
agement. He says : " I walked the pavements of Phila- 
delphia, after my leturn from ]{urope. for nearly three 
years without making as much b)- my practice as put 
soles on my shoes." liut the \-ear alter his retiu'n was 
one notiible in Philadelphia for a terrible visit, ition of 
yellow fever. The mort.ility was \er}- great, ;md the ser- 
vices of the young doctor in the hospital on ]?ush Hill 
brought him to the fax'orable notice of Dr. Rush, who 
spoke highly of his ability. In the following year he 
was appointed to the jiost of surgeon in the Pennsyl- 
\'ania Hospital. This turned the tide of his fortunes. 
His subsequent rise was rapid. Some of the diictors hati 
fled from the cit)- ; others had died. Dr. Ph\-sick was 
among those who kept at their posts, though himself 
seized b}- the fever, and again in 1797, when it returned. 

In 1798 the fever once more a]5peared, with still greater 
virulence. B)- this time L^r. Plnsick had gained eminence 
in his profession, .md was now made ph)-sician-in-charge 
of the Cit\- Hospital, on Bush Hill. His opportunities to 
study the disease, particular!)- by post-mortem examina- 
tions, enabled him to treat it with such great success that, 
on the abatement of the tlisease, the managers of the hos- 
pital presented him with a costly service of silver plate. 

In 1800, Dr. Physick, led by the great reputation he 
had gained as a surgeon, started a class in surgery as a 
separate branch. Dr. Rush, one of the leading professors 
in the Uni\-ersit)', encouraged him in this project, and 
students came to him in such numbers that the trustees 
were inducetl to make surgery a separate chair and invite 
Dr. Physick to occup)^ the position. This was in 1805. 
Surgery h.id thus, through his influence, been made a 
separate bnmch in Philatlelphia sooner than in lulin- 
burgh. In 1819 Dr. Physick became Professor of Anat- 
omy. Pie held this post for twelve )-ears, and died in 
18 



0/- 



As a surgeon he sto'id in the highest rank in his 
profession, and as a lecturer was always highly popular, 
while his reputation abroad was signified by his election 
to membership in several medical societies of Europe. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



195 



JOHN LANC. 

Jiiiix Lanh, fcir 111, my years an actiw nianiiracUii'cr of 
PliiLulelphia. is ,1 n,iti\c nf W'lirtcniberg, German)', in ( 
wliich coLintry he was hoiii in 18^3. He received his 
education in the public schools of his nati\'e huid, and 
wliilc still a youth L;aine<l some knowledt^rc of paper 
niakin_t(. a business which was in a measure hereditary in 
his family, both his fathei' and his L;randfather ha\inij 
been engaged in it. He came to America in 1S50, when 
eighteen }-ears of age, landing in New \'ork, and jm'o- 
ceeding at once to Philadelphia, which city h,is since 
been his home, except for brief periods. Xaturall)' seek- 
ing work in the line of business in which he had had some 
training at home, lie found emplo_\-ment in Megargee's 
paper wareliouse on Decatur Street. After a period of 
hard work there, he obtained a situation in William 
Garrett's paper-mill, in Chester Count}-, Pennsyhania, in 
whicli he was fii'st able to a\ail himself of his earh' in- 
.struction in his father's art. Up t(.) iS^fS his life was that of 
a roving journexMiian paper-maker, he working in \arious 
mills of Philadelphia and other parts of the country, and 
in time gaining a thorough knowleilge of the Inisiness. 

His industr\' and abilit}- first iouiul acknowledgment 
in 1866, in whicli }-ear he was ]ilaced in charge of the 
paper mills of the In(|uirer Com[)any, at Manayunk. 
This establishment was an e.xtensixe one, paper- making 
being carried on in it on a large scale. It was one of 
the first mills in this countr_\- to make paper of wootl and 
straw, a liranch of the business which has since become 
highly important imder the rapidly increasing demand 
for newspaper matcri.d. Mr. I.ang remained in this 
position for se\-en )-ears, the full management of the 
establishment being in his hands. 

During these \x-ars of service he had accumulated a 
small capital, and in 1873 fouiul himself in coiulition to 
start business on his own account in a modest way, 
establishing himself at Twent)'-fourth and \'ine .Streets, 
in which location he h.is since remained. The branch of 
business he started was a comparativel\' new one, that of 
the manufacture of roofing and luiikling papers, — the 
former being used under pitch and gra\el roofs, the latter 
between floors antl in other situations in housebuilding 
for the purpose of deailening sound, increasing warmth, 
etc. At first the establishment made about two tons of 
paper a day. Its business, however, has steadil}' in- 
creased, under an increasing demand which kept the 
w'orks in active operation except during three montiis 




of the business depression of 1873, and which has kept 
them running at their full capacit\- during the decline in 
business of the [xist and the present year. 

The establishment, which began in a leased property 
of small dimensions, now (Kxupies a large group of 
buildings, Mr. Lang having purch.ised the original build- 
ing after six years' occupancy, and extended it till the 
buildings now cover a space of two lumdred and two 
feet on T\\ent\--fourth Street and one hundred and ten 
on \'ine, while the protluctixe capacit)- of the establish- 
ment lias grown until tlie present outjiut is twent}' tons a 
day. This p.iper is made of woollen rags and other waste 
stock, and is sold all o\er the country, Mr. Lang's estab- 
lishment being, with one exception, the largest of its kind 
in this countr}-. The mills run da\^ and night, being 
di-i\en I))- engines of one thousand horse-power, the con- 
sumption of coal being about ten thousand tons annualh-. 

Mr. Lang's establishment has passed through some 
mutations of foitune. In 1886, the building of the Bal- 
timore and ( )hio " p;;ast Side Railroad" along the Schuyl- 
kill compelled a rebuilding and remodelling of the place, 
at an expense of about S75,ooo. At a later date, in 
( )ctober, 1893, it tot)k fire and was |)artl}- destro\-ed. 
The energetic proprietor, howe\er, had it in operation 
again seven da\-s after the fire. 

Mr. Lang married in 18^)0. and has two daughters, 
both of whom are married. 1 le is a hale and active man, 
energetically engaged in dexeloping his business. 



196 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JOSEPH SAVIDGE. 

Joseph Savidge is a descendant of an old Virginian 
family, wliose members resided near Richmond until 
the death nf his yreat-grantlfather in 1795. The sons 
of this gentleman came north after his decease, and 
one of them, William Savidge, made his home in Phila- 
delphia, where he engaged in business with his son, 
William Savidge, Jr., the father of the subject of the 
present sketch. 

Joseph Savidge was born in Philadelphia, June 28, 1847, 
and, after receiving his earlier education, was registered 
as a student-at-law, in 1863, in the office of John S. 
Powell. Here he prosecuted his studies and took part in 
the practical work of the office till 1 868, in which year 
he was admitted to practice at the Philadelphia bar. He 
was examined for admission before he had reached the 
age of twenty-one, and passed a \'ery satisfactory exami- 
nation, but, in accordance with the rules of the court, 



was not gi\'en his certificate until he had attained his 
majority. 

From that date to the present Mr. Savidge has con- 
tinued in active and successful practice. He has particu- 
larly devoted his time and attentjon to the organization, 
incorporation, and management of corporate bodies, a 
line of legal dut)' in which he possesses acknowledged 
ability and experience. He was one of the committee 
selected to organize and to prepare and obtain the charter 
of incorporation for The Commonwealth Title Insurance 
and Trust Company of Philadelphia, and continued to 
ser\-e on this committee until the organization and incor- 
poration of the compan\^ were perfected. He has per- 
formed similar ser\ice for a number of other corporate 
bodies, having given his counsel and supervision to seve- 
ral companies organized, incorporated, and consolidated 
in Philatleljihia and under the corporate laws of other 
States. 

In addition to his labors in this particular field of legal 
diit}-, Air. Savidge has obtained a lucrati\-e and increasing 
court practice, principalh' in the civil courts of this city. 
His attention has been specially directed to corporate 
real estate and commercial law and to Orphans' Court 
practice, in which lines of professional duty his long and 
abundant experience has made him an expert. 

Mr. Sa\'idge is political!}- a member of the Democratic 
part)-, in whose counsels he has been reasonabh' active, 
though he has never held nor sought for public office. 
He took an active part in the instruction of election offi- 
cers untler the recent ballot law, and is at present a 
member of the FL.xecutix-e Committee of the Young 
Men's Democratic Association. In at^idition to his politi- 
cal connections, he is a member of the Lawyers' Club, 
the Columbia Club, and the Athletic Club of the Schuyl- 
kill Navy. In religious belief he is a Baptist, and is a 
member of Grace Baptist Church, at Broad and Berks 
Streets. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



197 



JOHN NEAGLR. 

John Xeaci.e was born in Boston, Alassacluisetts, on 
the fourth cia\- of November, IJQ''). His parents were 
residents of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He lost his 
father when he was but four \ears of aije. With the 
usual desire to draw figures of things earthl}- and un- 
earthly, the bo\-'s efforts were directed to something like 
systematic drawing b\- a school-fellow. This was Petti- 
colas, afterwards the well-known artist of Richmond, 
Virginia. Neagle looked up to him as a master, and 
imitated his attempts until he became a wonder himself 
to his school-mates. 

After the educatiim of a CdnuiKui luiglish school, the 
boy was sent to the drawing-school of Signor Pietro 
Ancora. B_\- his own choice, young Neagle was appren- 
ticed to Mr. Thomas Wilson, a coach and ornamental 
painter, but had his ambitions aroused by the ambition 
of his master, who became a pupil of Mr. ]?ass Otis, the 
portrait painter. 

John had to carr}' palettes and brushes to and fro, 
which introduced him to Otis's painting room, and created 
the determination to become as great a painter as tlie 
man whose works he admired above all things. Having 
access to materials, he applied himself day and night to 
drawing and painting " in his own way," and when not 
emplo\-ed b_\- his master. The skill acquired b>- his own 
exertions rendered him the most profitable to Wilson of 
all the apprentices in ornamental work. 

The attempts of Neagle were encouraged and praised 
by Krimmel, C. W. Peale, Otis, Sully, and others, and lie 
was a fa\orite with Wilson, who appreciated his useful- 
ness and his talents. 

The first portraits the \-oung ]:)ainter attempted, e\-en 
from the commencement, gained him applause and en- 
couraged his efforts. Mr. Neagle has said that in after 
}-ears, howe\er much he ma\' have otherwise impro\'ed, 
he could not ha\e impro\etl the likeness in his first 
subjects. 

I will cop\' from a letter before me Mr. Neagle's ac- 
count of his first interview with Mr. .Sull\- : " Mr. Sully 
then lived in the Philosophical Hall, in P'ifth Street, and 
he had on his easel a study for tlie proscenium, or part 
tner the stage, for the Chestnut Street Theatre. I went 
with Mr. Otis to Mr. Sull\-'s painting room, where he left 




me alone with him. The \'ery polite but formal manner 
in which he received me I shall ne\'er forget, particularly 
when he assured me that ' the arts tlid not point the way 
to fortune, antl that had he been a merchant, with the 
same perseverance which had characterized his efforts in 
art, he might ha\e realized a fortune.' On my depart- 
ui'e, he inxitetl me to visit his exhibition room whenever 
I felt a desire, — which I often did, — but never paid him a 
jjersonal visit until 1822, after he had called upon me to 
congratulate me, as he said, on my great success in the 
exhibition, presenting me at the same time with a card of 
mvitation in his own handwriting to Earle & Sully's gal- 
ler}-." It was some vxars before Neagle became intimate 
in .Sully's f.miily, l.iut the intimacy, when it took place, led 
to the marriage with one of the painter's daughters. 

He became an established portrait painter in the city 
of I'hiladelphia, and continued to improve by his un- 
wearied study and application to his art. Some of his 
best portraits are those of Pat L\-on. Bishop Meade of 
Virginia, Rev. Dr. Pilniore, Dr. N. Chapman, Commodore 
Barron, Gilbert .Stuart, PJr. \\'. P. Dewees, Dr. Horner, 
Joseph Tagart, Henry Cla\-, Judges Sharswood and 
Stroud, Henry C. Care\', William D. Lewis, John Ord, 
Colonel Pleasanton, and nian_\- others. He died in Phil- 
adelphia in 1865. 



198 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



ANN PRHSTON. M.I). 

Ann Preston, widely known from Jilt lonij association 
with tlic Woman's Medical College of Philadelphia, was 
born at West Grove, Chester County. Pennsylvania, De- 
cember. 1813. Pier |)arcnts bclonj^ed to the Society of 
P'riends, and in the quiet old honuste.ul in which her 
^grandfather had li\ed, and in wliich her father was born 
and died, she spent the first thirt\'-si.\ years nf what 
])romised to be an une\entful life. The nei;j;hl3orhood of 
her home was one of much intellectual and moral culture; 
she read largel}', and earl\- became interested in the lead- 
ing philanthro])ic ipiestions of the day, about wliich she 
thought and wrote much. 'Ihe anti-slavery cause earl)' 
enlisted her s\m])athies, and she became a member of 
the Clarkson Anti-.Slaver\- .Society, formed near her home, 
and afterwards of the .American Anti-Slaver\' Society, 
organized in Philadelphia in 1X33. She went ardenth" 
into this work, in which she became known as a forcible 
writer, and in 183.S was present at the meeting in Pennsyl- 
\-ania Hall, when it was attacked and burned by a mob. 
.She wrote a ]joem eiilitK <1 " 'Phe lim'ning of Penns_\-Kania 
Hall," which, with one by |iihn Pierpont, was selectetl 
out of se\eral hundred U>y publication in " The Histor\- 
of Pennsylvania Hall." 

She ditl uuich for the relief of fieeing slaves. On one 
occasion, a fleeing slave woman was forwartled to her 
house for Cdiicealment, diu'ing the absence of her father 
ami mnlher at P'rieiids' Meeting. .She concealed and fed 
the fugitive, but was soon infornieil that [nu'suers were on 
tlie woman's track, were searching the house next below, 
and would soon reach her own. .Miss Preston \\as e(|ual 
to the emergency. She at once harnessed a horse to the 
carriage, dresseil the W'oman in her mother's plain shawl 
and Quaker bonnet, coveiX'd her fice with a thick vail, 
and drove down the road b_\- which the slave-catchers 
were e.x[jected. She soon met them riding rapidly for- 
ward. They approached the carriage, peered curiously 
in, bLit seeing onl\- a _\-oung girl ami an apparent!)- 
elderly P'riend, rode on, while she carried the woman to 
the hoLise which the)- had just searched. The fugitiv-e in 
the end reached (Canada in safety. 

Miss Preston also became actively interested In the 
tcnijjerance cause, and prei)ared a memorial to the Legis- 
lature, asking foi- the enactment of a law prohibiting the 
sale of into.xlcating liquors within Chester County. The 
paper was ably written, but failed in its desired effect. 



In iiS48 she published a small book of poems for children, 
called "Cousin Ann's Stories." Several of these poems 
have become classics in child literature. She had a fine, 
thoughtful, poetic style, characteristically her own. 

When it was proposed to establish a Woman's Medical 
College in Philadelphia, Miss Preston became at once 
strongly interested, and on its opening. In tlie fall of 1850, 
she was one of the first to enter as a student, ha\-ing been 
f )r Slime time i)re\'iousl)- engaged in the study of physi- 
ology and h)-giene, with the purpose of fitting herself as 
a popular lecturer on tliose subjects. She graduated at 
the first annual cnninicncement of the college in 1852, 
and in the ensuing spring, having continued her attendance 
Lipon lectures, accepted the chair of Ph)-siology and H\-- 
gieiie in the college, and entered upon the great work 
of her life. 

Previous to this she had been lecturing to women on 
these subjects in the large cities, and had begun to obtain 
some medical practice, which grew- considerable In later 
)'ears. One of the great needs of w omen students being 
hospital practice, from which the)' were debarred in the 
established hospitals of the cit)', l)r. Preston set herself 
dlligentl)' to work to organize a Wcjman's Hospital in 
connection with the College. 1 ler efforts, and those of 
her associates, in this direction, proved successful ; the 
Hospital was opened, and she was appointed one of its 
Hoard of Managers, its corresponding secretary ami con- 
sulting physician, offices which she held till the tinie of 
her death. 

'Phe opening of the war In 1861 proved Injurious to the 
cause of the College, and its doors were closed for one 
V'ear, though Dr. Preston urged that lectures should be 
continued, even if there should be but one paying student. 
In 1866 she was elected Dean of the P'aculty, and in 1S67 
was made a member of the Poard of Corporators of the 
College. In the same year she wrote a memorable reply 
to the resolution adopted by the Philadelphia County 
Medical Society, that they would not encourage women 
]M-actitioners of medicine, nor meet them In consultation. 
Her reply was a noble vindication of the cause of woman. 
Dr. Preston lived to see the College and Hospital a pro- 
noimced success, much of which was due to her own 
earnest labors ami keen intelligence. She was attacked 
with acute rheumatism in 1 87 1, and died April 18, 1872, 
after having for more tluui firt)' )'ears worked nobl)- arid 
successfully for human progress ami the Industrial ad- 
vancement of woman. 



MAK/iRS OF PIJILADRLPIIfA. 



199 



CI.HMHNT A. CRISCOM. 

Ci,i.Mi:Nr ,\. (iKi.--iiiM, l)iiin in I'hihitlrlphi.i, M.ucli 15, 
l84i,is ticsccndcd iVdm a lamil)- (jf l-'iicmls w ho came 
to l*LMinsyl\-ania in i^So, mic of his auicstors on llic 
niotlicr's side beinLj llionias I.Ioyd, deputy j;o\'ernor 
and ])r(.-sident of the Council of l'enns)-l\'ania from 16S4 
to i(')9V 1 1"-' (ifisconis lia\e Ijcen ])ii)niin(iU in tlie 
liistoiy of I'hiiadelpliia from its ori_t;in. Ilis fallier was 
Dr. Jolm D. (irisconi. ( )\\v of his bi'otliers is WiUiam 
W. (iriscom, well known as the inventor of the (iriscom 
motor, a lii_L;hly impnrtaiit electrical device, an<l fu' his 
successful ex])erimeiUs in the perfectini^ of storage bat- 
teries for street cars. 

Mr. Griscom was educated in the I'hiladelphia public 
schools, speniliuLJ two years in the IiiL;h .School, and 
com])leting his studies in an .uademical school conductetl 
!)}• the Societv of I''riends. ( )ii leaviiiL;" school he oli- 
tained a position as clerk- in the pi-oinint-nt shippint^ 
house of Peter Wright iSc .Sons, in which his unusual 
energy and abilitv' brought him a \er)- ra|)id ad\ance- 
iiient. In I1S63, wluii but twent\'-two j'ears of age, he 
was admitted to a partnership in the fuaii, and from that 
time to this has grown to be a more and more important 
member of it. as the older members graduall}- \'ielded 
the direction of alfaii's to jiis ,icti\e and able hands. Ilis 
attention has been pailicularly directed to the steamship 
enter[jiises in which the tiini is so e.\tensi\ely enib.irked, 
and the de\elopment of their interest in which has been 
largel)' tlue to his tireless energy and miusual ability in 
the lajiid handling of business. 

The International Na\igation Company, established in 
1 8/ I, has grown until it now controls and operates more 
transatlantic toiuiage than ,in\' of its competitors. It 
owns nearly all the slock of the " Reil Stai' Line," a 
Belgian corporation, and the majorit\- of the stock of 
the " Inman Line," a coiyjoi-ation of I'jiglish origin. In 
addition to these it is the owner of the four steamers of 
the " iVmerican Line," the whole Heet of ocean steamers 
under its control now numbering twenty-one. Among 
these are the great steamers, the "City of New N'oik " I 
and the " City of Paris," recently admitted to American 
registry, and to which are to be added fi\-e others of etjual 
tonnage, contracted for by the great slii[)-building llrm of 
Wm. Cramp & Sons. Mr. (iriscom became vice-president 
of tliis comi)an\- in 1871 ; and on the resignation of its 
presidency by James A. Wright in 1888, succeeded liim 
as president. Mr. (iiiscom is of the ojiinioii that trans- 
atlantic steamship travel is still in its infancy, and that if 
passengers could be assured that the\' would be carried 
in unsinkable ships, eciuipped with twin engines and 
screws, the number of ocean passengers would greatly 
increase. 




X 



y 



\ 




V 



Mr. Griscom is also I'resident of the National Transit 
Com[)an}-, a Penns\-l\-ania corporation which jiossesses 
the most extensive system in the world for the transi^or- 
tation of petroleum in pipes and its storage in tanks, 
ilis othei' pul)lic duties include directorships in the 
Penns)-lv,uiia K.iilro.id Compan_\-, tiie Hank of North 
America, the I'idelit)- Insurance, Trust, and .Safe Deposit 
Compau}-, the W'esteiii .Savings I'"und .Societ}', and other 
industrial and transportation comjjanies. I'"or a number 
of years he was a trustee of tlie C'ity Ice ]5oats, and for 
a time was president of that trust. lie is a member of 
tlu' riiil.idelphia Club, tlie Rittenhouse Club, the- Union 
Le.igue, the New "S'ork Yacht Club, and the P'armers' 
Club, the last named composed of wealthy landowners 
of Penns)'l\ ania, who aie liu^bantlmeii for recreation and 
not for prt)fit. 

Mr. (ii'iscom resides duiing the winter on .S|)ruce 
Street, I'hiladelphia. and in the sunnnt-r occupies his 
handsome nurd lesidence, " Dolobran, " near Ilaverford 
station, on the main line of the Pemis)'lvania Railroad. 
This place receives its name from the old seat of the 
Llo\-d famil}' in Wales. He is fond of agricultural pur- 
suits, and devotes liimself to fnaning interests as a relief 
from tlu; cares of connneici.d business. He is also inter- 
ested in stock raising, and is fond of ilri\ing. I lis love 
of horses is shared b\^ liis children, all of whom may be 
frecjuently seen, mounted on ponies or horses, riding over 
the beautiful roads in the vicinitj- of his country residence, 
lie married in 1862 !•" ranees C. BidtUe, and has five chil- 
dren, of whom Clement, the eldest son, graduated at the 
University of Penns\-|\-,mi,i in 1887, and is now in the 
office of Peter Wright & .Son. Ilis remaining family 
consists of two other sons and two daughters. 



200 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




CHARLES CHIPMAN. 

CiiAK[.i:s (Jiii'M.w, line iif tin; liTidiiiL; hosier)- manu- 
facturers I if riiiladelpliia, was b(ini in this cit\-, Octciher 24. 
1842, hc'nv^ descended from a family who liad been resi- 
dents of I'iiiladelphia since 1750. I lis [xux-nts were in 
moderate circumstances, antl he was obh'Ljed to lea\'e 
scliool and bcLjin a business hfe when only twelve years 
old. He set out with an cxceedin<^ly small ca[)ital with 
which t<i earn a fortune, his worldly effects consisting of 
the small sum of thirteen cents ;md one extra suit of 
clothes wrapjjed u[) in a cop\' of the Public Lcdt^cr. The 
boy, liowever, had enei's^y and intellit^ence, which are, 
perha]:)s, the best stock in trade with whicli to beL;in life. 
The journey of the youn<; traveller led t<:) a farm, on 
which he worked for four years, receiving during that 
time onl\- three months' schooling. 

In i.S58he returned to the city, and secured a situa- 
tion in the imibrella-handle manufictory of Jeremiah 
Quicksall, working diligentl}' during the day antl gtiing 
to private school in the evening, moved thereto by an 
earnest desire to re[)air his neglected education. He 
remained in this establishment till 1 861, in which \-ear he 
enlisted in the Cameron Dragoons, — afterwards tlie Fifth 
Pennsylvania Cavalry, — and served as a non-commis- 
sioned officer throughout the war. He was wounded in 
one of the eai'l)- battles, that of Williamsburg, \'irginia, 
but quickly recovered, aiul continued to serve in the 
Army of the Potomac, in most of whose engagements 
lie [xu'ticipated, passing unhurt thi'ough the remaintler 
of the war. 

After his discharge from the service and return home, 
Mr. Chi])man secured a situation as shipping clerk with the 
firm of ICvans, Sharp & Westcott, Market Street, dealers 
in window glass, resuming his business life at the small 



salar\- often dollars per week. He continued during this 
period of service his efforts to complete his education, 
studying at pri\-ate schools in the evening, while working 
diligenth' during the day. Pearly in his period of service 
with this firm, Mr. Chipman married, his bride being Mary 
Van Artsdalen, of Bucks County, Penn.sylvania, a lady 
descended from some of the earliest settlers of the State. 
The title to the hcjmestead and property, which is still in 
the hands of the family, was taken in the days of William 
Penn. Their famil)' at present consists of four children, 
two sons and two daughters. 

Mr. Chi[)man began business for himself in the }-ear 
1874, with a small capital but a \aluable business expe- 
rience, entering into partnership with Mr. P^ugene P!. Nice, 
to conduct a paint manufacturing establishment, under 
the firm name of Chipman & Nice. This business, located 
at No. 274 South Second Street, was continued until 1884, 
wlien the firm dissolved partnership, and Mr. Chipman 
began his present line of business, in association with his 
two sons, PVank L. and W. Evan Chipman. The new 
firm, under the title of Charles Chipman & Sons, started 
business in Germantown in the manufacture of hosiery 
and underwear, and during the ten years that have elapsed 
since that date have pushed their business into the fore- 
most rank of this line of manufactLU-e in Philadelphia. 
As an evidence of the extent to which ten years of per- 
sistent and intelligent labor has developed the business, 
it will suffice to state that the present daily output of the 
factory is three thousand dozen pairs of hosiery, and that 
the factory has not only sustained its business during the 
recent period of panic, but has been running night and 
day on orders throughout the whole period. In addi- 
tion to the Germantown establishment, the firm formerly 
owned and operated the P^agle Hosiery Mills, of ^Pdia- 
noy City, and are now interested in two other hosiery 
mills in the coal regions. 

Mr. Chipman's business success has been largeh' due 
to his unremitting attention to his affairs, and to the fact 
that he lias done business throughout on ten days' credit, 
and has bought strictly on the same terms. He has thus 
esca])cd the pitfall of debt into which extended credit is 
ajjt to lead. During his business life he and his wife 
have travelled widely through this country, one trip 
co\ering a space of over eleven thousand five hundred 
miles. This was described in a book entitled " Rambles 
of the Denver Club, 1892." On June i, 1894, Mr. Chip- 
man withdrew from the firm, leaving the business in the 
hands of iiis sons. Pie jjroposes to spend much of his 
remaining life in travel in this country and abroad. He 
is an active member of the Masonic order, and is con- 
nected with a number of charitable and other associa- 
tions. Among his charitable tjifts is tlie endowment of a 
free bed in the Samaritan Plospital. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



201 



REV. SAMUHI. F. HOTCHKIN. 

This clcrL;\-iiian was hmn in Saniiunii, Xc\v York, 
lie is tile son of Rc\-. I)r. li. IV Ilotilikin, who at his 
death was tin- pastor of tin- AIaii)lc l'iL---l)yti'iian Church, 
]5rooniaII, Delaware County, I'eiuisyUania. At one time 
he was associate etiitor with Rev. l)r. Mears of I'ltc 
Aiiicriiiru Prcshvtcriau, I'hilailelphia, and for years was 
tin- Philadelphia coirt;s|)i indent of I'lic Xri^' York Evan- 
gelist, lie was also the author of sexeral books, one 
bciiis.^ on Christian experience, entitled " L'pward from 
Sin, Throui;!! (irace to (dory." A booklet, cdled "The 
Soldier's Scrap-Hools," was a ieliL;ious wmls id benefit 
the Northern arm_\', and was larL;el\' cii-cid.ited in the 
war. 

Dr. Ilotchkin was ,ni t'ditor in .\ew \'ork .State before 
he was a clerL;\-man. I lis fitlur was Rev. [.mies I lervey 
flotcilkin, author of a book on the histmy nf the I'res- 
byteri.ni Clun'ch in western New \'oik. This (gentleman 
was the son of Rev. J5eriah llotchl^in, the fust I'resb)'- 
terian minister tr> work on the west side of the lluilson 
River when the country w.is a wilderness. IK: toiled for 
year.s, riding; on hoiseback ovei' scattered districts, ,ind 
makin<r his home in the lovely villa<je of Greenville, at 
the foot of the Catskills. 

Rev. .S. F. Ilotchkin, beiuL; the third ^rL-neration in the 
miiiistr}', was a student in West Chester Acatleni)-, in 
Penn.sylvania, untler the \tiK:ral)le James Crowell. I le 
afterwards entered l\Tid(llel)ui'\' ColleL(e, in X'ermoiit, 
under the [jresidency of Rev. ])r. Dabaree ; but the most 
of his coUcLje-life was spent at Trinity ColleL;-e, Hartford, 
Connecticut, where: he was _^rraduated under the presi- 
dency of Rev. Dr. D. R. Goodwin. Mr. ilotchkin was 
a lay-reader in colle^L^e, assistint; Re\'. Professor Jackson, 
and also Dr. Goodwin in his work at .St. Gabriel's, Wind- 
sor, Connecticut, which pioinpted liislmp Co.xe's poem, 
" Rustic Churches." 

Mr. Hotchkin is a i^raduate of the (ieneral Theo- 
logicrd .Seminar)', \ew York city, havin;,^ studied under 
Professors Tuiner, Johnson, and Mahan. lie became a 
candidate for I loly Orders in the iliocese of New \'ork, 
in the episcopate of Hisjiop Horatio Potter, beini;' a la\'- 
reader at k'ort WashinLjton, in the u])])i:r p.iit of New- 
York city. He was ordained in Trinit\' Church, New- 
York, b\' Bishop Carlton Chase, of New- 1 lampshire, in 
Bishop Potter'.s absence abroad. He then became assist- 
ant minister to Rev. Dr. J. 15. Clemson, at the Church of 
the Ascension, Claymont, Delaware, also ha\-in^ chart,rL> 
of Calvar\- and (jrace Chuiches in BrancKwine Ilundi'ed. 



*A. 




He was ,dter\\,u-ds recloi' of the three t huiches, .uid new 
chui-ch buililinL;s weie erected for CaK'ar)' and (ii'ace 
Churches, and a rectory at Cl,-t\inont. He was President 
of the .Standint^- Connin'ttee, and was apijointed an c.xani- 
inini;- chaplain l)y Bishop ,\lfretl I.c'e. 

h'or a short time Mr. Hl)tc]d^in was rector of Trinity 
Chuich, \\^:C[ liank, Monmouth Count}-, New Jersc)', 
and St. John's Chapel, <it Little Silver Creek, was built 
(lurini; his rectorship. Vox a nnmbei- of \-ears he has 
been rector of the beautifid Mei-nori.d Church of St. 
Luke the l>elo\-ed Physician, at Bnstleton, Philadelphia, 
built b\- Mrs. Paidine L. IIcnr_\- to the L;lor}- of God in 
Christ, and in memor_\- of hei' luisb.md, Di'. Bei-naid 
I lenr)-. 

Mr. Hotchkin is RcLjistrar of the diocese of Peiinsyl- 
\ani,i. and Dioces.'in .Secrt't,ir_\- of the London Church 
House. He has written eii^ht N-ohnnes and hundreds of 
articles foi- jirint, trealinu; IarL;el_\- on local church and 
neii;Iil_)orhood histor)- antl tin- li\es of the clert;)- of 
Pennsylvam'a and IJelaware. He wrote many articles 
for the " Cluirch Cyclop;edia," edited by his fellow-semi- 
narian, Re\-. Professor A. A. ]5enton, D.D., and was the 
author of the petition for church unit\- |)reseiited to the 
General Convention at Chicaj^o, wliich was sii^ned Ijy 
o\er thirty bishops and more than a thousand clergymen, 
and some thi'i-e thousand laymen. 

St. Luke's Bo\-s' lioarding-School, under the care of 
Professors Strout and Moulton, is a part of St. Luke's 
parish. 



26 



202 



.MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




CHARLHS F. MAYHR. 

]\Ik. Ciiak[.es Fkki>i-;kick Ma\ek, I'rcsiilcnt nf the 
]5altimorc ami ( )liio Railroad Company, is a son of 
Lewis Ma_\-cr, whn was one of the first men td develop 
the anthracite coal regions of I'eiinsyK ania, anil was a 
noted Maryland lawyer. The fuller of Lewis Mayer 
was Christian Mayer, who emigrated from Germany and 
settled in Baltimore shortl}- after tlie Revolutionary War. 
He was one of the leading merchants of lialtimore, 
represented the kingdom of Wm'temberg as Consul- 
General, and was one of the founders of the German 
Society in 1817. and its first president. 

His son, Cluu-les F. ALayer, whose name has been 
inheriteil b_\' the subject of our sketch, was a distin- 
guished [(ublic man of Maryland anil a prominent Whig, 
lie was a State Senator, and, as ch.iirman of the joint 
committee of both houses, was the means of settling 
the troubles between the Haltimore and ( )hio Railroad 
and the Chesapeake and ( )hi(_i Canal Company. The late 
Colonel Brantz Mayer, Paymaster in the I'. S. A., anil a 
distinguisheil literary man of this city, was an uncle of 
the present Charles F. j\Li\-er. All of the ALij-ers have 
been distinguished men — some in law, some as mercliants 
■ — and nearl)' e\'er_v one of them had some connection 
with railroails and other large entei'prises. 

The present Charles F. Mayer was born in Pennsyl- 
vania while his father and mother were tempoiarily living 
in that State. Wiien quite a \-oung man he became a 
clerk in the office of his uncle, I-Y'ederick Koenig, who 
was one of the largest merchants of his time in Balti- 
more. Mr. Mayer served for a time as sujjercargo on 
vessels trading to South iVmei'ica in his uncle's business, 
but after an absence of two years returned from Val- 
paraiso to Baltimore, where he became the head of the 
firm his uncle had founded. vVbout i8<')4, he, in company 



with Thomas and Joseph Jenkins and others, organized 
the Despard Gas Coal Company, with mines at Clarks- 
burg, West Virginia, becoming president of the company. 

In March, 1877, he was elected President of the Con- 
.soliilatioii Coal Company, and also of the Cumberlanil 
and Pennsylvania Railroad Companv, and a few \-ears ago 
was elected President of the Susquehanna and Tidewater 
Canal Company. In 1871 he estal:)lisheil the firm of 
Mayer, Canoll is: Com[)any, engaged in the business of 
mining and shipping coal, and subsequentl}- became a 
partnei' of Mr. Henry (\. l)a\is, under the firm name of 
Davis, Ma)'er is: Co. This firm dissoKed some time ago, 
and the two partners are now the heads of competing 
railroad and coal companies. 

Mr. Mayer is a director in a number of banking, steam- 
ship, and other corporations. I le married his cousin, Miss 
Susan Douglas Keim, daughter of the late Hon. George 
Ma\' Keim, of Reading, Pennsyhania. 

The Consolidation Coal Compan\', of which he has so 
long been the able president, mines o\er one million tons 
of coal a year, and has a capital of over Si 0,000,000. 

In December, i SS 1 , he was elected President of the 
Baltimore and ( )hio R.iilroail Comjjany. That great cor- 
poration was, at the date of his election, in a depressed 
condition financialK', and all Mr. Mayer's experience, 
energy, and ability luu'e been called acti\x'ly into play to 
restore it to the commanding position it once held. In 
this ariluous duty he is ni<d<ing important progress, and 
promises in due time to be fidly successful. The general 
public, in fact, is just beginning to learn, what has been 
long known and conceiled in Ijusiness circles, that among 
the leading railroad managers of the centur_\- must be 
included Charles Y. Mayei', who holds full rank with 
the able men at the he.iil of the other great trunk line 
systems of the cc.umtry. 

Personall)-, Mr. Ma_\'er ile\'otes himself so closeK' to 
the man\' impoi'tant interests that ilemand his attention 
that he has little time for social relaxations, his hours of 
release from duty l.ieing princijiall)- spent in the enjo\-- 
ment of home life, in person he is tall and spare, with 
a face displa)-ing strong force and intelligence. In manner 
he is very precise, earnest, and \'igorous. In conversation 
he can be pleasing, and talks logically and persuasively, 
but when aroused is \-er_\' iletermined and aggressive. 
All through his life he has been successful, and, while 
he inheriteil a large f)rtmie and earned another, he 
makes no ilispla\', because he has no time to indidge 
in lu.xurx' and extravagance. Not only a tireless worker 
himself he inspires all who surround him to be indus- 
trious. His affairs are almost as important in Philailel- 
phia and New Yoi'k as they are in Baltimore, anil the 
important relation which the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- 
road now bears to the birsiness interests of Philadelphia 
full)- entitles him to a place in the present volume. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



203 



HENRY CR(1SKHY. 

Henrv Croske\ , the soil 111" Cuori^e Duncan and Eliza 
Croskey, was born in Philadclpliia, Nox-eniijcr 15, 1S14. 
Plis fatlicr, wiiii was in tlic lumber business at Hmatl antl 
Race Streets, ilied AuLjust 29, 1829. His imither \\,is 
the dauLjliter 1 if ('ai)t,u'n Inhn Ashniead, who served in 
the Rev^olutidii.uy War, in which he rendered valuable 
services to the j^oxernniLnt. To L;i\e an itlea ol' Ca[)tain 
Ashmead's career, tlie following e[)ita[)h, w ritteii I>y him- 
self, is worth)- of reproduction ; 

" in lifu's hard lialtle, d'ci il-^ tnuiliU-il seas, 
Through innii)' a stnrni aii»-l inaiiv a prospeious brec/e, 
Thicjui^h suiiinicr's heat and winter's chilling l>last, 
Iroin tonid ti) the frigid /one, I've ]>ast. 
One hundred voyages through uniunnbered toils, 
I've sailed at least hve Innidred th<iusand miles; 
Been taken, sunk, an<1 ofttinies cast awav. 
^'et weathered all in tlii- ^nug port to lav. 
Where, undisturbed, nn dust it shall remain 
Till the last trump calls up all liands again. 
And what new perils I may then go through 
No human reason ever yet could show; 
But the same power which le<l through earth and sea 
Will donlitlcss K-ail me ihrougii elerTiitv." 

Alter his ftther's deatli, Mr. Cruskey, thuugh only in 
his fourteenth year, continued the 1 timber business suc- 
cessfull}' in the same location until iS:;:;, in which \'ear 
he renimed tile business to the s(|tiare of ground between 
Arch and h'ilbert, luohteeiith aiul Nineteenth .Streets, a 
localit)- at tll.tt time outside the built-up [jortioiis of the 
city, though now closeh' co\ered with handsome resi- 
dences. In 1.842 he adopted a new business method, 
which added greatly to his success. At th.it time large 
(juantities of lumber wi-re brought on canal-boats from 
the Lehigh aiul .Sus([tiehamia regions to the cit\', where 
there was no firm to receive and handle tluni in the 
interest of the shippers. The owners of such consign- 
ments of 1 timber were therefore obliged either to come 
to the city and seek ptirchascrs for their goods, or to 
trtist to the canal-boat captains to make sales. Tiie 
method was a primitive and unsatisfactory one, and there 
seemed to be necessary the establishment of a house to 
receive such consignments on commission, aiul dispose of 
them in the interest of tiie owners to the retail trade. 

The idea that this would be an ad\'antageous form of i 
business occurring to Mr. Crosktw', he took steps to pro- 
cure the first and second wharves below Green Street, on I 
the Delaware, and made it known throughout the lumber ' 
region that he was prejiared to recei\e consignments of 
lumber on commission and atteiul to .dl the details of 
sale as agent for the owners. The idea proved an emi- 
nently successful one. The lumberers were well satisfied 




to be relieved of the responsibility which had hitherto 
troubled them, an<l .Mr. Croske)' received abundant con- 
signments, which he tlisposed of satisfactorily. As evi- 
dence of this, it ma_v be st.ited that (hiring the fort_\- }-ears 
in which he contintieil in lousiness in this localitv, lie re- 
ceived and sold more than a thotis.md millions of feet 
of lumber of ever_\' tlescription, besides maiu' millions of 
shingles. To give an idea of the \-astness of the quantity 
handled, it has been calculated that, if placed in piles 
si.xteen feet square, each containing ten thousand feet, 
it would form a great wall e.Ktending from Philadelphia 
to I'ittsbtirg. 

Mr. Croskey did not confine himself to the lumber 
business. He became early interested in the street rail- 
wa\-s of the city, and in 185S was elected Presitleiit of 
the Ridge Avenue Railway Company b)- a unanimous 
\'ote. He resigned that position in i860 in favor of his 
friend, Mr. V.. B. Edwards, who still remains president of 
the companv. In i85<;, the ]?oard of Presiilents of the 
City Passenger Railways of Philatlelijhia was organized, 
the comjianies represented being the following: Citizens' 
(Tenth and I-lleventh Streets) Railwa}' Company, I'" rank- 
ford and Southwark (h'ifth and Sixth Streets), Race and 
Vine Streets Compan\-, Ridge Avenue, Second and Third 
Streets, p'airmount and .\rch Street, Philadelishia and 
Darby, West Philadelphia (Market Street), and German- 
town (Fourth and Eighth Streets). Mr. George Williams 
was elected [jresident of the Board, and Mr. Croskey its 
secretar)- aiul treasurer. To these positions he has been 
annuall_\- re-elected from that time to the present, having 
served in this capacity for thirt}--five consecutive years. 



204 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




HOWARD BRCXJKS. 

EnwAKU Hkikiks, Sujjcrintenclciit of the Philadelphia 
Public Scliools, was born at Ston\- Point, New York, in 
1 83 1. After attaininjj; an academic education, he spent 
three \x'ars in his father's factor)-, de\'otinL;' his leisui'e 
hours to the study of literature, mathematics, etc., and at 
the a<je of eighteen began his career as a teacher in the 
village school of Cuddeback\ille, New York. In the 
following year he entered the Liberty Normal Institute 
as a student, ami while there was offered and accepted a 
position in the Uni\'ersit\' of Northern Pennsylvania as 
assistant teacher, with oj^portunities for continued stud}' 
in literature and mathematics. His high ability in mathe- 
matical study was .so marked and evident that the pro- 
fessoi' of that department being taken sick, he was gi\-en 
charge of the class in higher mathematics, and in the 
following \'ear was elected professor of this department. 
In the \'ear succeeding, the department of literature was 
placed inider his care, ancl lie aided in introducing and 
developing the newl\- ile\ ised s\'stem of grammatical 
analysis in the teaching of grammai'. 

.Shortly afterwards Professor Brooks accepted the 
chair of Literatme and Mathematics in the Monticello 
Acadeni}'. New \'ork. and in the following year (1855) 
became Professor of Mathematics in the newI}--organized 
State Normal .School, at Millersville, Pennsjdvania. 
During tlie elc\en \-ears in which he remained in his 
position he published a series of mathematical text-books 
which rc\ olutionized the methods of teaching mathe- 
matics throughout the country; while his system, as 
developed in his uwii teachings, ga\e the Millers\ille 
School a national reputation. In 1866 he was elected 
president of the Normal .School, and adopted a course 
of instruction in pcdagog)- which anticipated nuich of 
what is now known as the " New I'Alucation." The 



teachers lie trained were wideh' sought for, and many of 
them now occup\' leading educational positions. During 
this period he published two works, " Normal Methods 
' of Teaching," and " Mental Science and Culture," wliich 
j have been widely used in the education of teachers. His 
work on " Tlic Philoso]ih\- of Arithmetic" is a masterly 
production, wliich shows fine [jowers of analysis and 
generalization. 

Dr. Brooks's work at tlie Millersville Normal School 
gave him the reputation of being one of the foremost 
j educators of the countr_\-. He was frequently offered 
the presidency of other schools at a liigher salary ; in 
1858 recei\'ed the degree of Master of Arts from Union 
College; and in 1868 was unaninioirsly electeil to the 
Presidency of the Pennsylvania State Teachers' Associa- 
tion. In 1876 the honorar}' degree of Doctor of Pliil- 
osoph}' was conferred on him b\' three different institu- 
tions, and in the same _\'ear he officiated as President of 
the Normal Department of the National Teachers' As- 
sociation. The Normal Department of the Pennsylvania 
exhibit at the Centennial I'lxpositioii was placed under 
his charge, while his mathematical works, which were on 
e.xliibition, were favorably noticed b\' the French Com- 
missioners of lulucation in their report to their go\'ern- 
ment. 

In 18S3 Dr, Brooks resigned his position at ^lillersville 
to take a much needetl rest, aiul settled in Philadelphia. 
The following vear he was elected President of the 
National School of Oratory, which he resigned at tlie 
end of a year, to engage in literary and general educa- 
tional work. His ser\ices as a lecturer were widely in 
demand, and he gave courses of lectures in all parts of 
Pennsylvania, was connected with summer schools for 
the education of teachers at Saratoga, Round Lake, 
Glenn's Falls, etc., and for two }-ears had charge of the 
Normal Department of the P'lorida Chautauqua. 

In tlie spring of I 89 1, after the resignation of Professor 

McAlister, to take charge of the Drexel Institute, Dr. 

Brooks was elected Superintendent of Public Schools in 

Philadelphia, a prominent and important jjosition, his 

efficient administration of which has alread\' attracted 

j wide attention. His most im]x)rtant work as yet in this 

1 jjosition has been the reorganization of the Girls' High 

.School, the est.iblishnient of a separate Girls' Normal 

School, the re\ision of the elementary course of instruc- 

'1 tion in Arithmetic, the introduction of a course in Moti- 

elling, the reorganizing of the course in Drawing, and 

the organization of an F2ducational Club. In 1893 he 

was President of the Department of Superintendence of 

the National Educational Association. 

In addition to the works named, Dr. Brooks has pub- 
lished several other school treatises on Arithmetic and 
the Higher Mathematics, together with " The Story of 
the Iliad" and " The .Stor\- of the Odyssey." 



3TAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



205 



WILLIAM McALEER. 

William McAleer, successor to Samuel J. Randall 
as United States Re])rescntati\c from the third district of 
Pennsylvania, is of Irish orij^in, haxin;,:; been born in the 
County Tyrone, Ireland, Januar_\- 6, 1 8 ^S. He attended 
school in that country from 1S45 to 1S51, after which 
his pai'eiits cmiLjrated to America, landini; in Philadel- 
phia on May 2, 1S51. l-'or two \'ears afterwards \-oung 
McAleer attended school at Nicetown, in the northern 
section of Philadelphia, but at the aj^e of fifteen was 
taken from sclu.iol to woi'k in a grocery store. He re- 
mained thus employed fn" four )-ears, gaining a prac- 
tical knowletlge of the business, which he then left to 
join his father and biothers in the establishment of a [iro- 
duce business on Second Street above Bainbridge Street. 
The firm continued in this location till 1861, when it 
reinoxed \.o Xo. 618 South Seconil Sti'eet, where it con- 
fined its opei'ations to the Hour business, its tratle be- 
coming the largest in that section of the city. The firm 
is still known as John McAleer & Sons, and consists of 
John McAleer, Jr. and William McAleer. 

Very carh' in his business career, Mr. McAleer became 
a member of the .Southwark Literar)- .Society, which met 
in the hall of the SouthwiU-k l.ibrar_\- CompaiU', Second 
Street lielow German Street, and afterwards in the Me- 
chanics' lu'^titute building, P'ifth .Street below Washington 
A\-enue. Ai the beginning of the war this societ}" was 
in a floin'ishing condition, its list of members including 
Henr)- R. p^dmunds, its president; Joel Cook and I*" rank 
Sheppard, now of the PuNic Ledger ; Joseph Ashbrook, 
now manage!' of one of the largest insui'ance companies 
in the countr_\- ; Jacob Teal, of the Pa-ie Railroad, and 
man\' others who ha\'e become ijroiiiinent in business 
pui-suits. Put the war broke up the societ}' and scattered 
its members, many of them enlisting, and some of them 
doubtless dying on the battle-field. 1 

Mr. McAleer was also a directtir of the Mechanics' \ 
Institute, and was for many ye.u's \ ice-president, and act- 
ing president of the St. Philip's Piterar\- Institute. He 
could not be made actual presitlent, since the rules 
re<iuii-ed that this ofiice shall be held b_\- a clergyman. 
Pie has also been President of the Hiberni.m Society, 
and is one of its e.\ecuti\-e committee. 

His political career began in October, iiSjo, when he 
was elected a member of the Cit_\- Council from the P'ifth 
Ward. He ser\cd a full term in Common Council, ami 
took an active part in its i)r(.>ceedings, but declined a 
renomination. In Jiuie following the close of his term 
in Council, he was elected a member of the Boartl of 
Guardians of the Poor, to which position he was re- 
elected for five consecutive terms, and in w hich he ser\etl 
successively as \ice-president and president of the Board. 
In this important office he took an acti\e interest, bring- 
ing about main- desirable reforms and strongK- opposing 




improper legislation. Lhe inmates of the iVlmshouse 
felt a high rcs[K'ct and regard for him, knowing that he 
was their true frientl. and that they could alwa\'s h.iok to 
him for justice and kind treatment. 

Mr. McAleer has for man\- \-eai's been an acti\e cand 
influential member of the Commercial Ivxchange, and 
has been 1)11 its most imixul.uit committees. He ser\-ed 
for a number of terms as a director of the P'.xchange, 
was subsei|uently elected N'ice-jjresident, antl in 1880 
became jiresident of this association. In the same )'ear 
he became a director of the Chamber of Commerce of 
Philadelphia. 

In iSSf') Mr. McAleer received the Democratic nomi- 
nation to the .Senate of Penns}d\ania, and was elected for 
a term of f mr \-ears. In 1889 he recei\-ed the nomination 
for president, />/(> tempore, b\' the Democratic members 
of that body. At the end of his term as Senator he was 
nominated to succeed Richard \'au.\ as United States 
Representative for the district so long represented by the 
late Samuel ). Rantlall, and was electetl a member of the 
P"ift\--second Congress. In 1892 he was renominated as 
an Independent Democrat, and was elected by a \'otc of 
15,516 against 5500 fir Mr. Kc-rr, regular Democratic 
nominee. He is a member of the Democratic Natitinal 
Executive Committee and also of the Campaign Com- 
mittee. 

Mr. McAleer is deepK- interested in the charitable 
work of the cit\-, ami was for many \-ears President of 
the First District Charity Organization. He particularl)- 
prides himself on ha\"ing brought about an organization 
which iias no parallel in the world. This is a union of the 
benexolent societies of the different nationalities of Phila- 
delphia, brought about b_\- his efforts, and over which 
he has jiresided since its formation. It includes pjiglish, 
Scotch, Irish, I'rench, Welsh, German, Belgian, Norwe- 
gian, and Hebrew societies. 



2o6 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




Hl.IHU C. 1K\1N. 

E. C. Ik\i\, I'icsident of the I'ire Association of Pliil- 
adclpliia, was horn near Harrisburt;, Penns\'l\ania, May 
22, iSS9- JJ'-'^ school etlucation was followctl by a 
period of ser\-icc as school-teacher at Duncannon, near 
the niduth i)f the luniata. This was while still .i yuuth, 
and was sdon abandoned for a stud}' of the iron busi- 
ness, in the works of the well-known Duncannon Iron 
Company. His ability in this direction was so marked 
that he was soon made manaijer of the work"s, and con- 
tinued in this service fir a number (}f years. In iS6g 
he entered the tni'e insurance business, with which he was 
thereafter to be identified, as special agent fir Pennsyl- 
vania (.)f the Germania Mre Insurance Company, of New- 
York, lie continued with this conipan\- until 1S74, in 
the autumn of which year he Ijecame general agent of 
the Ph(eni-\ l*"ire Insurance Company, of Hartford, Con- 
necticut, making Philadelphia his place of residence. He 
has since that date been, a resident of this city. The 
business of the compan\- was an extended one, and Mr. 
Irvin had a wide field to co\ er, the territcn')- under his 
management comjirising, with the exception of New 
York, the whole region along the Atlantic coast from 
T.ake Erie to the Gulf of Mexico. He continued with 
the Phcenix, tloing most excellent work as an inspector, 
adjuster, and agency manager, until P"ebruar\-, 188,4, 
when he was offered and accepted the vice-presidency of 
the P"ire Association, a company which has been in ex- 
istence f)r nearly eighty )'ears, anil whose history is 
closely identified with the whole recent development of 
the Quaker city. In 1891 he was elected to the presi- 
dency of the comp.un', a position which he still most 
acceptabl)- fills. 



The career of the Fire Association has been so inter- 
esting, that we may reasonabl}- supplement our sketch of 
its president b}- a brief account of its histor\-. It was 
organized September I, 1S17, and incorporated March 
27, 1820, with Michael h"ox as its first president and 
Caleb Carmelt as its first secretary. The organizers of 
the company were the volunteer fire and hose companies 
of old-fashioned Philadelphia, and it was understood 
among them that the building bearing the long familiar 
representation of the fire-plug, with which the association 
ornamented all buildings insured by it, should be the first 
to recei\-e attention in the e\cnt of a fire. This under- 
standing, which was an open secret, worked strongh- for 
the ad\antage of the association, every prudent citizen 
quickl)- coming to feel a decided preference for the poli- 
cies of this compan\-. 

The great fire of 1S50 marked an e\ent in the histor}' 
of the association. Finding itself with but Sioo,Ooo to 
meet its losses b_\' that fii'e, the thirteen trustees went 
energeticall}- to wiirk to laise the necessary funds, making 
themselves indi\ ieluall}- lial)le, while the engine and hose 
companies pledged their apjiaratus and other property. 
As a result the mone)' was secui'ed, and all losses paid 
in c<ish. In this case honesty pro\etl good polic\" ; the 
confidence and sympath)' of the community were enlisted 
in favor of the company, and within four \'ears the asso- 
ciation had regained its former strength. In 1S70, w'hen 
the Volunteer I'ire Department of Philadelphia, which 
had e.xistetl since 1743, ga\e place to the present Paid 
F"ire Department, part of the assets of the P~ire Associ- 
ation was converted into capital, and the ten thousand 
shares tlistributed among the members of the disbanded 
engine and hose companies, the joint-stock arrangement 
being duly provided for by charter. At present the as- 
soci.ition is domiciled in a \er)- handsome white marble 
building on Walnut Street, west of Fourth Street, one of 
the choice architectural atlornmcnts of that locality. 

Mr. Ir\in has done much for the atlvancement of the 
company. ( )n accepting the vice-presidency, he found 
the association in a depressed condition, and at once 
proceeiled to reorganize its agency system. The second 
\-ear of his duty found a large reduction in losses, and 
in the \'ear following the surplus began to recuperate. 
Since then, under his careful and intelligent management, 
there has been a steady progress, and by the \-ear 1 89 1 
Mr. Ir\in had added three-quarters of a million to the 
conipau)-'s assets and half a million to its net surplus, 
besides paying annual di\idends (.>f fort}' per cent. Since 
his [)romotion to the presidency, this progress has con- 
tinued, and the \-enerable association, in its new home 
and under its energetic president, is excellenti}' equipped 
fcjr a tutiu'e of success. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



207 



RICHARD S. COLLUM. 

Cai'I \i\ RieiiARoS. Coi.LUM, Assistant Ouartri-niastcr 
in tlic United States service at I'hiLuielphia, is a nati\e 
of Indiana, thougli of Penns)-l\ania orii^in by his paternal 
anccstr)'. On liis mother's side he is descended from 
Maryland and X'iii^inia fimilies, his ancestral line in these 
States including the Lees, Chaplines, and Z.ines. h'rom 
the period represented b\- the Societ}' of the Colonial 
Wars— of which he is a member — there has alw.i^'s been 
a member of his family on the maternal siile represented 
in the serxice. 

In 1S54, lu' was appointed hdin the State of Indian, 1 to 
the I'nited St.ites Xa\al Acatleni)- at Annapolis as acting 
midshipman. I le resigned after rem, lining thei'e two and 
a half \-ears, but on the outl)reak of the Ci\il War he 
applied for ser\'ice in the n.uy, .mil receix'cd a com- 
mission as second lieutenant in September, iS(3i, being 
assignetl to duty iju the frig<ite "St. Lawience." His 
previous drill in the N.u'.d Academy had ren<lered him an 
effecti\e officer, and he continued on the "St. Lawrence" 
until AIa\', 1863, being jiionioted fii'st lieuten.uit on I )e- 
cember 30, 1862. During this period he s.iw much 
acti\'e service, being stationed successfully at .St. Simon's, 
Georgia, and Port Ro\'al, South Carolina, and taking part 
in the engagements with the .Sew ell's Point B.ittei'x' antl 
the Confederate ram " INIerrimac," in the bonib.u-dmciit 
of SeweU's point and the cai)ture of Xoifolk'. I le served 
afterwards in the Ivist (nilt .Sipiadinn, .uul in three 
boat expeditions on the Plorida coast And in Indian 
River. 

In Jul}-, l8r)3, while on le.ive of absence, Lieutenant 
Collum \ i)lunteeri(l his services to Goxerifor Moi'ton, cjf 
ludi.uia, during ( ieiKi'.d Morg.m's r.iid to the north of 
the ( )hio Ri\er. His offer was accepted, and a battalion 
of provision. d troops placed under his command. He 
was atterw. litis st.itioned at Cairo .md Mound (.'it\', aiul 
f II' a ye.ir was attached to the Mississippi squailron, 
during which period lie w.is actively engaged, especially 
on expeditions into Keiituckv' in pursuit of guerillas. 
At a later date he was a membei' of a coiiiniissidn to in- 
vestigate charges against certain active rebel svmpathizers 
at Louisville, Kentuck)', and from /Vugiist, I 864, to , April, 
1865, was attacheil to the frigate " New Ironsides." 
During this time tli.it vessel bore a [)roniinent part in 
the two attacks upon P'ort Fisher. He was afterwards in 
temporarv charge of the barracks at the Washington 
Navy- Yard during the conhnenient of Paine and his 
associate conspirators; was in command of the marine 
barracks at Mound I'itv, Illinois, from November, 1867,10 
December, 1868; and from 1869 to 1 87 1 served on the 
" Richmoiul" in the Mediterranean stiuadroii. 

He received a commission as ca|)tain in M.irch, 187J, 
and for the three succeeding years was stationed at the 
marine barracks, Boston. Here, during the great fire of 




November, 187J, he commanded the fu'ce of m. nines, 
and had ch.irge of the removal ol tre.isuie h'om the .Sub- 
rie.isurv to the Custom I louse, which vv. is accomplished, 
in spite of the exciting cii'cumst.inces, without accident or 
loss. C.ii>t.iin Collum's next service was as fleet marine 
officer of the iVsiatic squadron and judge advocate of 
the fleet, l)_v special .ippointiiieiit of the N.ivy Depart- 
ment. Prom |une, 1873, to July. 1878, he vv.is att.iched 
to the fkig-ship "Tennessee," aiul hdiii .\ugust, 1878, 
to November, 188 1, w.is a member ol the Hoartl of In- 
s[)ection. In the lattn' veai' he became a resident of 
PliikKlelphi.i, being .ittaclii'd to the marine b.irracks at 
League Isl.ind. He rem. lined here till 1883. 

In Apiil, 1 883. lie took p.ii't in the expedition to Pan, una. 
(Jn the night of the withdrawal of the United States forces 
from that city, it w.is re]iresented to the commanding 
ofTiceis that .1 viol.ition of the .irmistice was prob.ible, 
through ilrunkeiiness and excitement of the insurgents. 
At ten I'.M. Captain Collum was oi'dered to enter the 
cit)- alone, to investigate the state of affairs. 'Phis most 
dangei'ous dutv he successfull}- perfirnied. .Soon after 
the return of the expedition he was commissioned captain 
and .assist, mt (luartermaster, and stationed at Philadelphia, 
in which citv he has resitled since that date. 

Capt.iin Collum is ,1 member of the iMilitary Order of 
the Lov.il Legion, of the Societv of Sons of the Revolu- 
tion, and the Societv^ of Coloiii.il W.ii's. I le is the author 
of "'Pile Ilistorv of the United States Marine Cor[)s" 
and the .irticles " Dai Nippon," " The First pjiglishman 
in Japan," etc., and h.is deliveretl lectures on various 
subjects, including " The American Marines during the 
W.ar of the Revolution," before the Histoiical Society, 
and " The Aborigines of North America aiul their Rela- 
tion to japan," Ijefore the Numismatic and Antiquarian 
Societ\' of Peniis\-lvania. 



208 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JAMES E. GORMAN. 

Oi' the active and influential \-iiun_L; men in the juninr 
l^ar, ^iiw ha\e nmre h'iends in the jirofessiim and mit of 
it than James \\. Gorman, who is also a I'hiladelphian b}' 
birth anil a High School bo\-, receiving there that \alu- 
able ground-work of education and itleas of ccjuit}' and 
the duties of citizenship which a law\'er finds so valuable 
in after life. Born in the cit\' of Philadelphia in i860, he 
attended and w as educated in the public schools, and after 
graduating from the Central High Sehool.in 1877, at the 
age of seventeen \x-ars, began the study of law, and was 
admitted to the bar March 5, 1883, soon after becoming 
of age, since A\hich time he has been in acti\-e and con- 
tinuous practice. The extent and character of the prac- 
tice of his preceptor required studious and industrious 
habits, t<i which this \-(iung la\v)-er attributes much of the 
success that has attended his career at the bar. With an 
e.\tensi\-e law practice he combines and has conducted 
for over ten \'ears a large real estate business in the 
northern section of the city, where lie has resided most 
of his life, and with whose inteiests, political, financial, 
and social, he has l)een more than ordinarily interested 
and identified. He has been one of a number of jiro- 
gressive citizens who have by their enterprise and zeal 
made Germantown Avenue the business centre for that 
section of the city poi)uIarl}- known as Cohocksink. He 
was the Drganizer, and, at present, in his capacit}- as secre- 



tary and treasurer, is the active manager of the Mutual 
Savings Bank, which for the past few years has been con- 
ducting an e.xtensi\e and successful banking business in 
the upper section of the city of Philadelphia. He is now, 
and has been during the past ele\-en years, secretary of 
the Triuinjih Building and Loan Association No. 2, PLrie 
Huikling Association, Continental Building Association, 
and the Triumiih liuilding Association, and solicitor of 
the Oaktlale Building and Loan Association and the 
North Philadelphia Building and Savings Association 
whose aggregate assets now amount to §506,000. While 
his ]5ractice is general, he is most frec^uently engaged in 
the ( )rphans' Court in the settlement of estates. 

He is an acti\e practitioner in tlie Common Pleas, 
however, and especial!}' skilful in cases requiring an in- 
timate and thorough knowledge of real estate law, and, 
while his appearance in the Supreme Court is not fre- 
quent, his clear, concise, and clever arguments disclose 
ability worth)- of an older and more experienced prac- 
titioner. He is one of the organizers and members of 
the Young Men's Democratic Association, a member of 
the Hibernian Society, and one of the original members 
of the Catholic Historical Societ)-. Like many other 
}-oung law_\"ers, he owes much of his success to his con- 
nection with literary societies, many of which, even be- 
fore he became of age, he represented at national conven- 
tions, and was accorded the honor at the con\ention of 
the Young Men's Literar\- Union, held in Richmond, 
Virginia, of the ajipointment b)- Right Rew Bishop 
Keane, now rector of the Catholic University at Wash- 
ington, of the chairmanship of the executi\'e committee 
of this organization. 

He has been heard upon the stump in several cam- 
paigns, and is considered an effective and eloquent 
speaker. He has always been active in municipal poli- 
tics, and his N'oice and serxices ha\'e always been directed 
to the advancement of the interests of the city, and for 
its good government. He is a firm belie\-er in the dis- 
association of politics from the go\-ernment of our city, 
maintaining that the same criterion should be applied in 
selecting public municipal officials that is adopted in our 
private business selections, the most woith}' and enter- 
prising and reliable only to be worthy of our confidence 
and support. 

He enjoys the confitlence of his clients ami the respect 
of the bench and bar, and this, after all, is the realization 
of the hope anil ambition of e\'ery lawyer. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



209 



ALEXANDER HENRY. 

Alexander Hexkv, the Maxor <if Philadelphia dnriiv^ 
the period of the Ci\il War, in wliich office he was dis- 
tinguished for iiis careful, wise, and strong adniinisti.itinn, 
was a nati\-e of that cit\-, in which he was born April I 1, 
1823. lie was the siin of John Henry and the grand- 
son of Alexantler Henry, a prominent and useful citi- 
zen. After recei\'ing an acatleniic education he was 
sent to Princeton College, from which he graduated 
with distinguished honors. He afterwards stutlietl law, 
and was .idmitted to the I'hikulelphia b.u' on Apiil I j, 
1844. 

In this profession he ad\ance<_l rapidly, spceilil)' gaining 
a remunerative practice and an excellent re])utation as 
an able lawyer. His official ser\-ice began in 1856, when 
he was elected to represent the Seventh Ward in the 
Select Council. Here he became so prominent that in 
1858 he was nominated fcir nia\-or, as the standanl-bearer 
of the Whig and Republican parties. The cit\- had had 
two mayors since its consolitlation, Conrad and \^aux, 
and Vaux was again the Democratic nominee, but was 
beaten by Henry with a majority of four thousand se\-en 
hundred. His service in this res[jonsible oftnce pro\"ed so 
efficient as to gi\'e the greatest satisfaction to the citizen.?. 
The police ser\ice in particular needed reorganization, 
and the new ma_\'or earncstl)' set himself to this impor- j 
taut task. There was so great a demand for positions in 
the [lolice service that the entrance to his office became 
impassable, through the crowd of eager applicants. The 
bod\- of policemen selected containetl the best material 
which had ever served the city in that capacity, and under j 
his strict regulations were raised to a high standard of 
efficienc)', Mayor Henr\-'s police for the first time bring- 
ing the cit)- under the full and read_\- control of its e.xec- 
uti\-e heatl. The reserve corps, which had been organized 
under Mayor Vaux, was raised in efficiency till it became 
tlie highly useful branch of the ser\-ice which it has since 
remained. I 

In i860 Mr. Henr\- was again nominated and elected 
ma)'or, defeating John Robbins, Ji'. In 1863 he was 
once more given the nomination, and defeated Daniel M. 
Fox, the Democratic nominee. In 1866 his popularity 
remained undiminished, and the nomination would again 
have been offered him, but he declined to accept it, de- 
claring that he consitlered it wrong for one man to hold 
the same office too many terms. Morton IMcMichael 
was chosen as his successor, and electetl to replace him 
in the ma)-oralty. 

Ma\-or Henry was thus distinctixel}- the war ma)-or of 
Philadelphia. He served through that stirring period 
with honoi' to himself and credit to the citv. In i860 he 




received the Piince of Wales on his \isit to Philadeliihia, 
driving with him in a carriage to the Continental Hotel. 
In December of the same year he called a meeting of 
citizens in Independence .Squaie to " counsel together to 
avert the dangers which threaten our countr\-." He 
served as chairman of the meeting, and tlelivered a stir- 
ring address. ( )n I'el.n'UcU}' 2\. \%(m, he welcomed Presi- 
dent Lincoln, and teiulered him the hospitalities of the 
cit\- on his memorable journe\- to Washington to take 
his [lost as head of the imperilled government. On 
.\pril 16 he issLied a proclamation warning all persons 
against treason to the United States or the city, or violence 
to person or propert}-. (.)n July 25, 1 86 1, he tendered 
the hospitalities of the cit\- to General McClellan on his 
wa_\- to the front to take command of the arm\- ; and on 
Jul}' 24, 1862, presided o\er a mass meeting at Indepen- 
dence Square, coin-ened to take measures to raise troops 
for the PennsyKania contingent of \-oluntecrs. 

Mayor Henry ser\'ed at intervals as trustee of the 
University of Pennsylvania, member of the Park Com- 
mission, director of the P'idelit}- Insuiance, Trust, and 
Safe Deposit Conipan\', and the Philadelphia Sa\-ing Fund 
Societ}-, and inspector of the P^astern Penitentiar_\-, which 
office he hekl for twenty-eight \-ears. He was acti\e as 
member and president of the State Board of Centennial 
Supervisors, and did much to aid the success of the K.x- 
position. In 1883 he visited Europe for his health, and 
returned much in\igorated in November, but was sud- 



denU' taken il 



and 



died December 6, i88^ He was a 



true type of the conscientious public officer, a man of 
sterling character, who won the respect of his fellow- 
citizens anil the affection of his friends. 



27 



2IO 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JOHN McARTMUR. 

John McAktiiuk, to wliosc architectural skill many of 
the most notable buildings in Philadelphia arc due, was 
a native of Scntlanil, ha\ing been b<>rn in Bladcnock. 
Wigtonshire, on Ma\- 13, 1823. His paternal ancestors 
came from Argyllshire, in the South Highlands, his ma- 
ternal ancestors from A_\-rshire. He was brought to this 
country when ten \-ears of age, his parents settling in 
Philadelphia, in which city he uas apprenticcil to learn 
the trade of carpentry. The boy's aspirations, howexer, 
led him decidedh- in the directions of ilrawing and archi- 
tecture, and, while working at his trade during the da)', 
he spent his evenings in efforts to improve himself in 
these arts. 

His uncle, percei\'ing that the ambitious boy had in 
him qualities of a higher order than those needcil to 
make a jouineyman carpenter, encouraged his aspirations, 
and offered to pa\- fur his libenil educatiDU. This the 
independent youth tleclined, preferring to continue the 
process he had begun of self-education. While thus 
employing his evenings, he managed to impnu'c himself 
in ordinary education at an evening school held in the 
old Carpenters' Hall, where he also received instruction 
in drawing and designing. Thi-ough tlint of assiduous 
ap[)lication he made remarkable progress, and in a 
brief time accjuired striking skill in his selected field of 
stud}'. 

Having obtained a thorough knowledge of the prin- 
ciples of architecture, he adopted it as the business of his 
life, and in i cS4,S gained a gratifying public recognition of 
his ability, being awarded the first premium for his plan 
for the new House of Refuge, which had been opened to 



competition by arcliitects. His plan being accepted, he 
was entrusted with the entire charge of the erection of 
the edifice. In 1849 he served as foreman under his 
uncle, who hatl received a contract for building the west 
wing of the Pennsylvania Hospital, and in 1850 was ap- 
piiintetl superintendent over the erection of the east wing 
of the same institution. 

I-'rom that time fni'ward Mr. Mc,\rthur continued 
busil}' engaged in the practice of his profession, planning 
antl superintentling the erection of many buildings of 
note in Philadelphia and elsewhere. This city abounds 
with nKinuments to his artistic skill and talent. Among 
the nKire prominent of the edifices which have been 
erected here under his plans are the Continental, Girard, 
and La Pierre Hotels, the last named having been more 
recently extended to form the Lafi_\'ette Hotel. To these 
may be added the liandsome white marble residence of 
Dr. |a)'ne and George \V. Childs, the Ledger Office, the 
old P(ist-()ffice building on Dock Street, afterwards 
occupied by Dr. Ja\'ne, the three noble marble business 
edifices at Ninth and Chestnut -Streets, and man}' other 
handsome business structures, including the strikingly 
attractive edifice of the Presb\terian Board of Publica- 
tion on Chestnut near Broad Street. Outside the city 
the fruits of his labors include the extensive banking 
building of Jay Cooke, in Washington ; Lafa}'ette College, 
at Easton ; the State Asylum for the Insane, at Danville, 
Pennsyh'ania, and other edifices. During the war he was 
employed by the War Department of the government in 
the erection of hospitals and i)thcr buildings, and was 
afterwards made the architect of the n.u'al hospitals at 
Philadelphia, Annapolis, and Mare Isl.md, C<ilifornia. 

The two greatest monuments of the architectural skill 
of Mr. McArthur, however, are the massive and imposing 
Post-Office buildings of Philadelphia, and the inniiense 
edifice of the Philadelphia City Hall, the largest jniblic 
building on this continent. This grand structure, which 
covers an area of four and a half acres, and whose lofty 
tower has no ri\'al in the world in height and massive- 
ness, w as built in accordance with his plans, and superin- 
tended b}' him till his death, which took place on January 
8, 1890. No nobler monument to architectural genius 
than this, which John Mc.Xrthur has left to perpetuate 
his fame, could be dc\'ised. 

In all his work as an architect, a pure and classical 
taste appears, and in all his protluctions he paiil strict 
regard to the fitness of things, making the purpose of the 
edifice alwa}'s his guide antl controlling idea in preparing 
its design. Tiie works left b}- him, therefore, have the 
valuable quality of being closely adapted to the purpose 
for which tliev were intended. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



211 



EDWIN 



Firi.HR. 



Knwix P^EXin FiTi.KK, the first Ma_\-c)r of I'hil.ulcl- 
pliia imder the new cit_\- ch.irUr, was hom in that city, 
December l. 1SJ5, his fatlier, William hitler, heiiitj; a 
prominent leather mercliant and tanner at Secnml and 
()tter Streets. The nld h'itler mansion still stands .it the 
Corner of these stret'ts, thouL;h no lont;cr occnpied In' 
tile faniil)-. Mr. Fitler received an .icademic education, 
and I'litered ujioil the stud_\- of l.iw and coin'ey.incin;^, 
the former in the office of Charles V.. Le.\, the latter with 
his br(.)ther, Alfred I'itler. Mis inclinations, howe\'er, 
ttirneil to mechanical pnrsiiits. and ,ifter fair )ears of 
stutly he deciiled to abandon the law and f illow his nat- 
nral bent. It cannot be said that the time he hail Ljiven 
to the l,i\\ was in any sense \\asti.d. I lis lei^al knowledge 
proved very usefnl to him in lousiness, particularly in aid- 
ing him to avoid litigation, of which he has not h.id a 
single instance during his long business life. 

He entered, at twenty-one \'ears of age, the cord.ige 
factory of George J. \\'ea\er, at (jcrmantown Avenue 
and Tenth Street, and in two \-ears acquired sii full a 
knowledge i.)f the business that Mr. Weax'er atlmittei.1 
him to partnership, the firm name becoming George J. 
\\'ea\er S: Co. Mis entrance brought new enterprise 
into the business, labor-s;i\ing machinery was introduced, 
all impro\'cments were adoptetl as the)' appearetl, ami 
the trade antl reputation of the firm rapidl)' augmented. 
Of these impro\'emcnts in machinery, main' were due to 
Mr. Filler himself None of them, howexer, were pat- 
ented, he giving his iiu'entions freely to the trade. In 
i<S59 he bought out the interest of his partner, and since 
that date the firm name luis been I'Ldwin II. Fitler & Co. 
The firm at present consists of liimself and his two sons, 
Edwin H. Fitler, Jr., and William W. Filler. Its business 
increased Lintil the old works became inade(|uate f >r its 
accommodation, and in 1880 the present works at Hrides- 
burg were established. They cover fifteen acres of 
ground, the buildings being filletl with the best machinery, 
while the pr<iduct is the largest in the United States. 
During his nearls' fift)' )'ears of business life, Mr. Fitler 
has maintained the most peaceful and amicable relations 
w ith his workmen ; there has never been a strike in his 
works, and many of his present emplo\'es haxe been with 
him from twenty to thirty years. The feeling show n for 
him by his business associates is indicateil in his election 
as President of the American Cordage M.uuif icturers' 
Association. 

As a citizeil, Mr. Mtler's lite has been an active and 
useful one. During the w<u' he w ,is a strenuous sup- 
porter of the go\'ernment, cnccjuraged enlistment among 
his emplo\'es, despite the business embarrassment it often 
caused him, .iiid took care that no com])an}' should le,i\e 
the city better ecjuipped for the field than tliat organized 
at his works. He was an earl}' member of the Union 




League, in which he has alwa\'s been known as a firm 
supporter of Republican principles, and the selection of 
competent men fir ol'fice. He is now \'ice-president of 
that organization. He is, in addition, (.r officio, a director 
of tile Park Commission, is a member of the Board of 
City Trusts and the Public Buildings Commission, and a 
manager of the lulwin h^)rrest Home. Dm'ing the 
World's P'air he was ,1 member of the Centennial Board 
of hinance. and did his share towards making the Fl.xpo- 
sition a success ;uul a eretlit to Philadelphia. (Ither 
positions held b\' him are those of director of the North 
PennsyK'ania Railroad Company and of the National 
Bank of the Northern Liberties. 

.\fter the passage of the act gi\'ing a new charter to 
the cit}' of Pliiladelphia, under which the authority of 
the max'or was greath' increaseii, and the executive con- 
trol of cit\' alTairs i)laceil almost wholl)' in his hands, 
Mr. Mtler w.is chosen as the nominee of the Republican 
party, and in 1887 was elected to the office of mayor by 
nearly thiit\- thousaiul majority. The duties before him 
were onerous. The whole city administration needed to 
be reorganized, competent heads of departments appointed, 
aiul methods of action de\'ised fir which there was no 
precedent in the earlier history of the cit\'. It will suffice 
to say that MayiM' Fitler fulfilled these duties to the 
general satisfaction of the public. ,uid left a thoroughly 
organized system of niuiiicii)al go\ernment to his suc- 
cessors. 

As a business man, Ivlwiii H. I'itlcr is distinguished 
b)' keen percei)tions, read}' grasp of important (|uestions, 
and rapid and correct decisions. .\s an illustration of 
his energy and promptness, it ma\' be stateil that on two 
occasions on which his works were destro\'eil b\' fire, 
contracts for their rebuilding were made and signed 
bef ire the firemen left the ground. 



212 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




HENRY HOLiMHS. 

Hk.\r\' Hot.mes, a carpet iiianufacturcr (if riiila(lcl|iliia, 
is a nati\c of Ireland, iKuiny; been born in Cmnit)' An- 
trim of tliat country, in or near the year iSjT), of a 
famil\- which claims descent from the luirls of Ibime, 
border cliieftains of Scotlantl. His parents emiL^'rated tn 
tills country in iS45,\\'lKn he was Ijut a small bo}', bein;^ 
the \-ounL;est of twehe children, tlien all lixini;'. The\' 
settled in Philadeljiliia, in w liicli cit_\- Mr. Holmes has 
since resided. His education was obtained at the Har- 
rison Grammar Scliool, famous for loeinij the scene of 
the commencement of the Kensington anti-CathoHc riots, 
tile fiercest and most tlireatening outlireak of mob 
violence that ever occurred in Philadelphia, and which 
was quelled only after serious destruction of projjert}- 
and loss of life. 

Mr. Holmes was taken from sclmol at an earl)- age, 
and began the business nf life in his father's shop, in 
wliich was carried on the trade of stair-carpet wea\ing. 
Here he gained a sufficient familiarity with the business 
to enable him, when of suitable age, to begin business 
on his own account, in connection witJi two of liis 
brotliers, the)' starting in a \er_\- small wa}- in the autumn 
of 1857. It was by no means a promising period in 
which to venture in business. A season of panic was 



upcin the land, antl Inr two nr three _\-cars the business 
affairs of the country continued seriously depressed, not 
fully recovering, in fact, imtil after the outbreak of the 
war. After a year ur two of struggle against the dis- 
couraging conditions of the times, Mr. Holmes's brotliers 
withdrew, leaving him to cai'r\- on the business alone, 
which he continued t(T tlo with much energ)' and per- 
se\erance, weathering all the threatening rocks of busi- 
ness trouble. He has since remained alone, with the 
exception of two \'ears, in which one of his brotiiers again 
took part in tlie business. ( )f those who were engaged 
in the carpet manufacture at that time (1S57), Mr. 
Holmes alone remains actively engaged, all his early 
competitors being dead or ha\ang withdrawn, with the 
exception of the Bromley lirothers, who at that period 
were connectetl in business witli their father, imder the 
firm name of John Hromley. Mr. Holmes's is the onl\' 
fimi that remains luichanged. 

He began business, as has been sai<.l, in a \'ery humble 
way, luu'ing but four old-feshioned hantl looms. At 
present he occupies the large establisliment known as the 
Sheinian Carpet Mills, at the corner of Trenton A\enue 
and Auburn Street, whose wea\'ing plant consists of 
si.\t_\'-three ingrain power-looms, and eleven broad or art 
square looms, an outfit which has the large productive 
capacit)- of aljout sc\en hundred thousand square yards 
of carpet per year. v\s may be perceived, the production 
of the works has steadily gi'own until Mr. Holmes to-day 
occupies a prominent position among the carpet-weaving 
fraternity of Philadelphia. It need hardly be said that 
the carpet business, which liad its origin in the years of 
Mr. Holmes's first humble \enture, lias now grown to be 
among the greatest c>f Phihidelphia's man_\' important 
manufacturing interests. 

Mr. Holmes was married in 1 859 to Miss Craig, a lady 
of a well-known Philadelphia family. His family consists 
of fl\'e sons and a daugliter now living, several of his 
children having died. Sociall)', lie is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity and of the Manufacturers' and Col- 
umbia Clubs. Politicall)', he has always been a strong 
advocate of the Republican principles, in common with 
most of liis fellow manufacturers. He is a member of 
the Presb)-terian Church, and a gentleman of domestic 
habits and quiet life. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



21 



WILLIAM H. BROWN. 

W'lLiJAM IL L!iv(i\\\, Chief iMitrineer of the I\niis\l\ania 
Raih'oad, was b(irn in Little Britain Town.shij), I^ancaster 
County, Lenns_\-lvania, L\-bruar_\' jij. 1836. Althoutjh 
Mr. ]5in\\ii is now fifty-si.x \-ears oKI, he lias enjoj'etl onU* 
fourteen opportunities of eelebratinu; his natal day. 

Mr. lirown received his education ,it the Central Mij^ll 
-School, Philadelphia, ,ui institution which is the alma 
mater of nian_\- (.)f the successful men of to-ila}-. /Vfter 
lea\ing" the school, Mr. LSrowii turned his attention to 
engineerinLj' as a profession, anil up to April, iSf'ii, he 
had assisted in the surveys of a number of new lines of 
railroad, and iiad also ser\-ed with the City .Sur\e_\-or of 
the Third District of Philadelphia. 

When Colcinel Thomas A. .Scott became Assistant 
.Secretary of War, in charge of transportation of tioops 
anel munitions of war, he cast about him for the brightest 
)'oun[; men as aides in tlie warious tlep.irtments. Mr. 
Brciwn had dev'cloped a fine reputation in his profession, 
antl in October, 1861, he was selected b\' Colonel .Scott 
as en<:;ineer of the L'nited States militar)' railroads in 
Northern \'ir_L;inia, w ith office at Alexandria ; and he 
served with si^n d abilitx' in this capacity throuijh the 
tr_\-ing times of the Hull Run l)attles and the battle of 
Front Ro_\'.d. In November, i86j, he was assigned to 
assist in the completion of the Pan Handle Railroad as j 
assi.stant engineer in charge of the Second Division, and 
one year later was appointed principal assistant engineer 
of that line. In October, 1864, when the Pan Handle 
Road was about completed, Mr. lii'owii was tr.msferretl 
to tlie Pittsburg Di\'ision of the lV'iuis_\l\ ania Railroad. | 

On March 17, 1S65, he was appointed engineer of the 
Oil Creek Railroad, of which Mr. P'rank Thomson was j 
tiien superintendent. In Jul)-, 1865, lie entereil the service < 
of the Philadeli)hia ,uk1 Paie Railroad as piincipal en- 
gineer, anil in .Sejjtember, 1867, was appointed engineer [ 
of rciad of the same line. 1 le held this important posi- 
tion until March, kSTiq, when he was transferred to Al- 
toona, and placed in charge of the construction of the 
maintenance of way and car-i'epair shojis. In |anuar}', 
1870, Mr. Brown returnetl io practical railroad construc- 
tion, ami was successi\-el}- resident engineer of the Miildle 
Division of the Pennsj-lvania Railroad, chief engineer of 
the Sunbur\- and Lewistown Railroad, sujierintendent of 
the Lewistown Dixision, superintendent of the Bedfonl 
Division, imtil .\ugust I, 1874, when he was [Monioted 
to liis present high position of chief engineer of the 
Penns\-lvania Railroad. Dming his long and \'aried 
career Mr. Brown has had direction of some of the most 
important engineering works of the centur\-, and lias won 
an enviable reputation in his special fiekl. His fine ex- 
ecutixx- ability, his restless energ)-, and the facilit_\- with 
which he has always met and overcome the most serious 
obstacles have often led to his selection when any difficult 




work was to be accomplished. These notable charac- 
teristics foimd manifestation in his war e-\|)erience. One 
of the most remark, ible instances of his prowess was the 
buikling of the bridge o\er the SlienancU)ali Ri\-er at 
Front Royal, Virginia, four hundred and tliirt)- feet long, 
in foi't)'-eiglit hours. Another was the construction of a 
milita]'y bridge oxer the Rappahannock Ri\'er near Cul- 
peper, Virginia, in loui- da\'s. Valuable sei'vices were 
also lenilered by him in rebuilding bridges antl rela\ang 
tr.icks after the flood which cre.ited such wide-spread 
destruction to PennsyKania Railroad property in Ma\-, 
1889. Other works which be.u' witness to Mr. Brown's 
engineering abilit}- are the maintenance of way shops, 
tlie car-repair sliojis, and the new Juniata s]io[)s at 
Altoona ; the rebuilding of the L-nion Station, and the 
reconstruction of the yarils at Pittsburg after the riots of 
1877; tlie old Broad Street Station, Philadelphia, and 
the L'ilbert Street elevated railroad; three station houses 
at Jcrse\' Cit_\', the Jersey Cit)' ele\,itei_l railroad, train- 
shed and station, and the magnificent new Broad .Street 
Station, now nearly coiiijjleted. With ,dl these works of 
a special nature, which woukl almost seem sufficient to 
occup)' the working-time of an ordin.n'y ni,m, he has 
kept his e\'es constantly on the task of bettering and 
iniprox'ing the roadwa)' and bridges of the Pennsyh-ania 
Railroad. 

Lender his superxision tlie iron britlges of the line liax'e 
been replaced with stone, curxes haxe been eliminated, 
and grades haxe l)een changed or rcducetl. The accom- 
[ilisliment of this xvork alone has serx'cd to place the 
PennsyKania Railronil in tiie front rank of .Vnierican 
railways. With such responsibilities .Mr. Brown is a very 
busy man, but being enured to labor b\' experience and 
liabit, and blessed with a xigorous constitution, he dis- 
charcres his arduous duties with the utmost ease. 



214 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




SAMUEL G. THOMPSON. 

Samuel Glstine Tiilimi'Shx, rcccnth- Justice of tlie 
Supreme Court of Pcnnsx-K-ania, was br)rn at Franklin, 
Venango Count)-, Pennsylvania, in 1837, his father being 
James Thompson, late Chief Justiee of the Siipienie 
Court, of whom we ha\e elsewhere gixen a sketch, his 
mother being the tlaughter of Gustinc Snowden. who, 
when {\\c _\-eais of age, escaped w ith her fitlier from the 
massacre of Wyoming, and at the time of her death was 
believed to be the last survivor (_if that thrilling historic 
e\ent. 

He was educated at tlie Erie Academy, and after his 
graduation studied tlie classics and the leading modern 
languages imder a pri\ate tutor. In 1858, on the re- 
moval of his father to Philadelphia, he entei'ed the 
University of PennsyKcinia, and after a tlKirough stuih' 
of the law, for which he had an inherited predilection, he 
was admitted to the bar in 1S61. Here he quickly rose 
to a leading position, and for more than thirty years 
continued in the active practice of his profession at the 
bar of Philailelphia. His practice has largely been in 
important corporation cases, though he enjoys the repLi- 
tation of being well equipped in all branches of the law. 

Mr. Thompson ma\' be saitl to have inherited his 
political views as well as his predilection and capacity for 
the law, but he has never sought office, preferring the 
(juiet pursuit of his profession, and no public position 
could have allured him by its mere emoluments. Up to 



the time of his aj)pointment to the bench of the Suiireme 
Court the only public position he had held was the un- 
salarietl one of Commissioner of P'airmount Park, to 
which he was electetl in 1S87. Since that time he has 
been connected with the management of the Park', and 
has Ixeii active and zealous in the discharge of his iluties 
in lelation thereto. 

On March 2, 1893, Mr. Thompson was, without knowl- 
edge or solicitation of himself or friends, appointed by 
Goxernoi" Pattison to the bench of the Supreme Court of 
Pennsvlvania, to fill the vacanc)' m.ule h\ the resignati(in 
of the recent chief justice. He accepted the honor, and 
took his seat on the bench which his father had occupied 
with ilisiinction f.>r fifteen \-ears. The coiu't was then in 
session in Philadeliihia, and the newly-appointed justice 
at once assumed the anluous ami I'esponsible functions 
of his office. His ai^pointment was received with great 
fiv'or alike by the bar, the press, and the people of the 
State, who confidenth- looked to him to sustain the I'epu- 
tation he h.ul long since made at the bar, and to uiihold 
b\' his judicial action public confidence in the high 
tribunal of which he had become a member. 

In the convention which met in the following Sep- 
tember, so highly were his services on the bench regarded 
by his [xirty, that he leceived a unanimous nomination to 
succeed himself as the Democratic candidate for the 
position. But at the ensuing election he failed of suc- 
cess, being defeated b)- an adverse political majority. 
His connection with the court had been marked by great 
indiKstrv ami attention, and his judicial opinions by clear- 
ness of thought and \-igor of expression. Perhaps the 
most notable of the opinions given during the brief period 
of his incumbenc)' is the dissent which he filetl in the 
case of the Citv of Philadelphia .igainst the Public l^uild- 
ings Commission, a case which attracted great public 
attention, and involved certain highlv' important principles 
of constitutional law. While the constitutionality of the 
law known as the Penrose Act was sustained b}- the 
majoritv (if the coiu't, it is apparent that the views of 
Justice Thompson were based upon reasons clearly and 
strongl}' set forth, and to the professional mind amply 
sufficient to justify the earnestness of his conviction and 
the logical capacit)' with w hich he expressed them. 

\\\ constitutional limitation, the term of office of Justice 
Thompson expired on the 31st of December, 1893, when 
he was succeeded by the Hon, D. N. Fell, the newly- 
elected justice. He has since resumed the active jjractice 
of his profession. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



215 



DANIEL G. BRINTON. M.D.. LL.D. 

Dr. Bkintox, the clistinsruishcd ethnologist, is de- 
sccncied from a family nf Fricnils, the oi'ic;inal American 
member of tlu- fimilv, Willi, iin liiiiitnii, emi;j;rating to 
PennsyK'.inia in 16.S4. His nicist nntable tlescemlant, 
Daniel Cjanison Brinton, was born i\Ia\' 13, 1S37, .it 
Thornbur}-, Chester Count)', Pennsylvania. At ,m eai'ly 
age he manifested a taste for tli.it [un'suit nf ai'ch;eol()gy 
in which he was to excel, his fither's faini occup_\a'nL; 
a "village site" nf the Delaware Indians, from which 
he cnllected nKm_\- arrow-heads antl other relics. The 
slutly (if McClintock's " .\nti(|uari,in Rese.irches" ami nf 
Humboldt's "Cosmos" also liel|)ed to turn his thoughts 
towards this pursuit. 

Dr. Biinton gr.uluated ,it \'ale College in I.S58, and 
afterwards studietl medicine in the Jefferson Medical Col- 
lege, from which he graduated as M.D. in i860. His 
graduation was followed by a )'ear spent abioad, chiefly 
at Paris and Heidelberg, after which he retm'ned and 
entered the arnu' as surgeon of United States xohmtecrs. 
His first service was in the field as medical director of 
the l*lle\'enth Arm\- Cor|js. This was followed b}- a term 
of service at Ouincy and .Springfiekl, Illinois, as superin- 
tendent of hospitals, which contuuied till the end of the 
war. Shortly after his return to pri\ate life, he was 
tendered the position of editor of the Medical and Siir- 
o'icdl Rcportcf, then the onl\- weekly medical journ.il in 
Philadelphia. This dut_\' was accepted in 1.S67, and he 
continued in the editorship uninterruptedly till 1SS7, a 
])eriod of twenty years. 

iJuring this time Di'. Brinton had been (le\'oting much 
time to the stud\' of his fuoiite science, and had written 
and publishetl a number of \-aluable works bearing upon 
it, which w idel)' extended his reputation as a learned and 
able ethnologist. In 1SS4 he w.is .ippoiiited Professor of 
l^thnology at the Acadeni)- of Natural Sciences of Phil- 
adelphia, and in 1886 became Professor of American 
Linguistics and ,\rch;eolog}- in the Uni\-ersit_\' of I'enn- 
s\-l\'ania. In both tliese institutions he deli\ers a course 
of lectures e\er\' _\'ear, which ha\'c jjros'eil \ery popular 
from their comfiined conciseness of statement and lucid 
exposition of the subject treated. 

In i88<j the Arch;eological Association of the Uni\'er- 
sit_\' of PennsyU.niia was oi'gani/.ed, in whose coiuicils 
Dr. Brinton took' a leatling position, and gave his experi- 
enced attention to the collection of a museum, which 
has now grown extensive in its proportions and highly 
\'aluable in its mateiials. In aildition to the positions 
mentioned. Dr. Brinton has (.>ffici,itetl as I'resitlent of the 
American Polk- Lore Societ)- .md of the Numismatic 
antl Anticjuarian Society of Philadelphi.i, and is a member 
of the American Philosophical Society, the American 
Antiquarian Societ)-, and of other institutions at home, 
and of several learnetl societies abroad. In addition to 




the academic degrees mentiouetl, he has been m.ule LL.D. 
b_\' Jefferson Medical College, and D.Sc. b_\' the Univer- 
sit\' of Penns_\-l\'ania. 

His earliest work of literature was "The Floridian 
Peninsula: Its LitercU'y History, Indian Tribes, and y\n- 
tiquities," published in i85(;. It was followed, in 1868, 
by "The Myths of the New World," antl in 1876 by 
"The Religious Sentiment: Its Source and Aim." His 
more recent woiks include " American HeroM\-ths: A 
.Stud}' in the Native Religions of the Western Continent," 
" Ivssa\'s of an Americanist," " Races and Peoples : Lec- 
tures on the .Science of tlthnogiapln-,'" and " The i\mer- 
ican Race." This is the first attempt to classify the 
Intlian tribes on the basis of language, and it also treats 
of their customs, religions, antiquities, etc. 

He has de\oted much attention to the nati\e .\merican 
languages, and has published and edited the " Librar)- of 
Aboriginal American Literature," of which eight \olumes 
ha\-e appeared. The \alue of this series is indicated by 
its bringing the editor the prize medal of the Societe 
Americaine de I~rance, the onl_\' instance in which it has 
been given to an American. He has published mail)- 
papers on American ethnology antl folk-loie, and on the 
possibility of :in international scientific language, the 
latter summed up in his pamphlet, "Aims and Traits of 
<i Woild Language." Dr. Pirinton has traxelled con- 
siderabl)-, and on two occasions represented American 
societies at the International Con\-ention of Americanists, 
in 1883 at Copenhagen and in i8yo at Paris. In 1892 
he was sent by the President to .Spain as American dele- 
gate to the Columbian P^xposition at Madrid. In 1893 
he was elected President of the American Association 
for the Advancement of Science, and served as President 
of the International Congress of Anthropology at the 
World's Columbian Expo.sition. 



2l6 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




WILLIAM H. i.ii ri>:r(jN. 

W'li, 1,1AM Iv LiTTLETiix, lawx'cr ami Lite Clerk i if the 
Quarter Sessions of Philadelphia, wa'^ boiai in this cit\', 
Ianuar\- l, iS^jS. He was educated in the Philadelphia 
public schools until ten years of aije, when his father 
diet], and his mother, needini; his services to aid in 
the support of the faniil)-, placeil him in a position as 
errand boy. I'riends of the widow, howexer, succeeded 
in jjlaciiiL; her son in Girard Cnlleye, where for fi\e 
years he enjoyed the excellent etluc.itional advantages 
gi\cn by that institution. At the end of his term the 
directors of the College, in accordance with their systein 
of pro\itlin;j; .dl their graduates with an opportunitx' 
of acc]uiring a knowledge of business, placed him in 
the office of Thomas S. Mitchell, con\e\-ancer, th.it he 
might learn this avocation. Here he made rapid and 
satisfactory' progi'ess, and pi'oxed of much assistance to 
his employer. 

His experience in coineyancing awakenetl in him a 
desire to study law, particular!)- that bearing upon real 
estate, and he entered the office of Richard C. McMurtrie 
as a law student. He passed a successfiil examination, 
and was admitted to the bar in the twenty-fourth year of 
his age. His progress in his new profession was rapitl, 
and lie ([uickly won for himself a lucratix'c practice. 
While thus engaged he became interested in politics, to 
which he devoted considerable attention, at first as a 
member of the Democratic party, and later as a Repub- 
lican, into the ranks of which party he was led b\' a 
study of the principles in\-ol\ei.l in the sLuer)- agitatii;>n, 
and to which he still adheies. 



His official life began in 1 866, in which \-car lie was 
nominated as a candidate for Common Council b\- the 
Republicans of the Tenth Ward, against William T. 
Ladner, the Democratic candidate. The waid is a close 
one [)olitically, and uiiceitain in a contest between jiopular 
candidates. In this case the can\'ass was a vigorous one 
on both sides. Mr. Littleton won by the small majority 
of tw enty-si.\ \dtes. His service in Council was note- 
W(jrth_\- from the first, but at the end of liis term, being 
renominated against his former opponent, he was defeated, 
the w.u'd being one in which the political scale could 
easih' be turned. In 1S70 Mr. Littleton became a can- 
didate for .Select Coimcil, and, after an active personal 
con\ass, was elected a member of this bod_\'. His career 
in Select Council was one that attracted much attention, 
he being an earnest advocate of municipal reform, on 
which subject lie took every opportunity, either public 
or [jrivate, to express his opinions, which were of an 
advanced character. 

At the end of his term, in 1S73, ]\L'. Littleton retired 
fiom Select Council. He Avas solicited to accept the 
reform nomination for mayor, against William S. .Stokle\', 
but deelinei.1. He was elected a member of the Consti- 
tutional Convention of 1S73, and served with zeal antl 
abilitv in the work- of this body, that of providing a new- 
constitution tor the .State of Pennsylvania. In the \-ear 
1880 the contest for numicipal r)ffices promiseil to be a 
close one, and both parties felt it important to make a 
careful selection of their candidates, convinced that only 
the most eligible ones could win. Mr. Littleton's high 
record for integrity during liis political career, his activit)- 
in condLicting a campaign, and his cheerful acceptance 
of (.lefeat, all told in his favoi- at a time of political un- 
certaintv', antl he received the RcinibliccUi nomination for 
Clerk of the Ouarter Sessions. The election showed 
that the partv liad Ijeen wise in their choice of a can- 
ditlate, Mr. Littleton being elected by a majoritv^ of 
twenty-one tliousantl seven lumdred anil se\-enty-six 
\'otes against Henry B. P^reeman, his opponent. He 
was re-elected by increased majorities at several succes- 
sive terms, and continued to hold the office until I S90. 

Mr. Littleton has proved himself, alike in his pr<.)fes.sion 
and in office, a prompt, correct, and trustworthy person, 
anil enjoys an excellent and [)rofitable practice. When 
in Select Council, he was elected chairnian, and showed 
himself a capable presiding officer, while on the floor he 
was ready, forcible, and polisheil in debate. He is a 
member of the Union League and the Union Republican 
Club. In 1881 he was married to Annie, daughter of 
Dr. Matthew Scmple. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



217 



GENHRAI. C.EORGE R. SNOWOHN. 

The Siidwdin taniily lia\c been l<in!4" in this cdiiiitry, 
bciilL; dcscciulcd IVdiii the l'"itz Ivandolphs, who settled 
at Hai'iistahle in i6j;o, and honi Wiihiini Sm )\\ den, who 
arri\e(_l on the 1 )el,i\vaie in i(')6o. (ien. SiiowiK-n's L,n'and- 
father, Re\'. Xatlianiel l\andol])h Snowtlen. w.is liorn in 
Plliladelphia in 1770, his wife Sarali, daughter of I)i'. 
Samuel (instine, l)ein;_; the last sin'\i\or of the massacre 
of Wyoming. His filher, 1 )r. Nathaniel Dufifield Snow- 
den, was a leading pjiysician 1 >f I'ranklin, \'enan_Ljo County, 
Penns\-lvania, his mother was dauL,diter of (jeort^^' Mc- 
Clelland, a prominent merchant and iron manufietuier 
of Franklin. In this town George Randolph Snowden 
was horn, hehruary IJ, 1S41. His education was ob- 
tained in the pufilic schools and at the local acatlemy of 
his native town, and in part from a pri\ate tutor. He 
afterwards read law in the office of Hon. C. Heydrick, 
latel}- Justice of the Supreme Court, and w.is culmittetl 
to the bar in .Vpril, 1862. 

The Ci\il War bcin_Lj tlien in actis'e operation, the X'ouny 
law)-er enlisted in AuLjust, 1862, as private in a company 
of tile ( )ne Hundred and I'^orty-second I'enn.sylvania \'ol- 
unteers, which he hail helped to recruit. Beintj defeated 
in a contest for tlie second lieutenanc)', he was appointed 
fii'st sei'i^eant, and in a few da)'s afterwards was chosen 
first lieutenant of the company b\- the unanimous vote 
of liis comrades. His first ser\ ice was on the liard-fouj^ht 
field of ,\ntietam, where the reL;inient had joinetl the sec- 
ond brigade, third di\ision, of the Penns\-lvania Reserves. 
At the subsequent battle ot [-"redericksburg. the regiment 
suffered severely, losing two hundred and fifty out of its 
force of seven hundred ami fift}- men. Lieutenant Snow- 
den was publicl)- commended on the fiekl by his colonel 
for gallant behavior, and was appointed acting adjutant. 
As such he took p.u't in I'mrnside's " mud march," ,ind 
the subsecjuent battle of Chancellors\ille. Tlie regiment 
was among the first to reach the fiekl of Gettysburg, 
where it took part, with se\'ere loss, in the first da\''s 
battle, fully si.xty per cent, of its strength being lost in 
this engagement. In the subsctiuent pursuit of the re- 
treating Confederates, Lieutenant Snowden commanded 
his conipan}-, now reduced from one hundred and one to 
thirteen men, .md in November, 1863. was appointed cap- 
tain. In the spring of 1864 he was reluctanth- forced to 
resign from the army, being recalletl home by the mortal 
illness of his parents. 

He now actively engagetl in the practice of his profes- 
sion, but raised ami commanded a com|)an\- of the X.itional 
Guard, and became prominent in the political and public 
movements of his native town. In 1874 he removed to 
Philadelphia, where he began practice in combination 
with his uncle, Hon. James Ross Snowden, e.x-Director 
of the Mint, etc. He became a candidate for Congress 
in the First District in 1880, but was, with his party ticket, 

28 



/ 





'^ ^ 




defeated, and in I 881 was elected from the Se\-enth Ward 
to Select Council in the face of a large ad\-erse political 
majorit}'. In this office he assisted in the nioxements of 
that time for good cit\- go\ernment, and introduced and 
urged a measure rec|uiring the banks to pay interest on 
cit)' deposits. This measure, since adopted. \\as then 
defeated b}- the strong opposition of John Bardsley and 
others. From 1885 to I S90 Mr. Snowden served as 
United .States Assistant A]:)praiser, being Acting Appraiser 
without assistants during four months of this time. 

In 1877, he marched, as colonel of the then Third Reg- 
iment, to the scene of the great PittsbLU-g riots. His 
men, in the Round House, surprised the mob when about 
to discharge a captured cannon, and dispersed them with 
mucli loss. P'or this service, when the (luard was reor- 
ganized in 1878. he was aj^pointed by the go\ernor Brig- 
adier-tieneral in commanel of the P'irst Brigaile. and in 
.August, 1890, was a[)pointed to succeed Major-General 
Hartranft, deceased, in chaige ot the entire Guard. On 
July 10, 1892, he called out the disision, by direction of 
Goxernor Pattison, and jiroceeded to Homestead, which 
seat of riot he reached with great dispatch, and without 
bloodshed put an end to the dangerous outbreak, and 
restored kiw and order. The swift assembly and fine 
beha\'ior of the troops were ne\er CNcelled, and the con- 
duct of the c.mipaign elicitetl fax'orable comment from 
experienced militar\- critics at home and abroad. 

General Snowden lias contributed to the press antl to 
periodicals. He inherited a taste for the classics, and 
\-early reads through the (ireek and Latin Testaments. 
While United States Appraiser, finding a knowledge of 
modern languages desirable, he studied and became pro- 
ficient in German. Spanish, anil Italian, iieing already 
familiar with French. He has not married, and with a 
nephew and niece survives his immediate family. 



2I8 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




HON. jOSliPH M. ("jA/./.AM. 

Joseph M. (ja/./am, lawyer, cx-Slalc Senator, son of 
I'xlward D. Ciazzam and I'llizabeth Antoinette, daughter of 
Constantine Antiiine de Heelen fdt- lieilliDlf) and ;4i'and- 
daui^liter, in male descent, of n.iiuii Antoine de Beelen 
tie Heithoff, Austrian Minister to the United States from 
1783 to 1787. 

The paternal ^grandfather. William Gazzani.an F.nt^Iish 
journalist, compelled in 179J, tlncup^li the resentment of 
King George III., to seek refui^e in the ,\merican Colo- 
nii-s, whose rii^hts he had upeiil)- niaiiitained, settletl first 
in Philadelphia, I'l'iinsylvani.i. later in ('.irlisk-, Pennsyl- 
vania, anil e\entnally in I'ittshurL;, I'eiinsyK ania, of which 
port he was .ippointetl colKctor 1)\' J'revsidiMit Madison, 
bccomin<^ later a magistrate (at that time an nflicc of 
dit^nity), antl, havins^ twice ni.uiied, died there in iSii, 
lea\in!4' several i hildren. 1 lis lourth xm, I'.dward \). 
Gazzam, ahoxe mentioned, was an eminent ph)-sitian, 
lawyer, ami an im[)ortant factor in l'eniis_\-Kania ])olitics, 
assisting with .Salmon 1'. Chase and others in founding 
the " I'Vee Soil I'artv'" at the memorable "Buffalo Con- 
\eiUion" in 1 848, becoming the first candidate for Gov- 
ernor of Pennsylvania, and, notwithstanding defeat, being 
again sclcctetl as the candidate for the .State .Senate in 
1855. Again unsuccessful, he was. ne\ei'theless, elected 
to that office in the following \-ear by the Union Reijub- 
lican parly by a majority of about one thousand. l)i'. 
Gazzam tlietl in 1872. 

Joseph M. (iazzam, the subject of this sketch, was 
boi'ii at Pittsbuig, December 2, 1843. He was educated 
at the Western University of Pcnnsyl\-ania. In Decem- 
ber of i860 he t-ntered the law office of Da\id Reed, 
F,s([., and was atlmitted to the bar of .\lleghan)- County 
at the age of twenty-one. In 1867 lie was admitted to 



the .Supreme Court of Peinis\-l\ania, in 1869 to the Cir- 
cuit and District Courts of the Unitcti States, and in 
1870 was accorded the distinction of being among the 
youngest attorne\-s e\-er admitted to practice in the 
Su])reme Court of the United .St.itcs. 

In 1872 he elite, ed into a law [)artnership with Hon. 
Ale.xandc'r G. Cochran. The firm continued until 1879, 
when it was dissoKed, owing to Mi'. Cochran's remo\al 
to .St. LoLiis. 

In 1869 Mr. Gazzam was elected to represiiit the P'irst 
Ward in the Common Council of Pittsburg, ami in 1876 
he became, b\- acclamation of the nominating coin-ention, 
the Republican candidate for the I"ort_\-third .Senatorial 
District, and was elected by a large majority. As a 
membi'r of the .Senate, Mr. (jazzani ipiickly took rank as 
a man of abilitv and character. Owing to his courtesy 
and Ir.iukness, many oi his warmest friends were found 
in the ranks of his political ach'ersaries, and at the close 
of his term he was a recognized leader of his part\-. 

In No\-eniber, 1 879, Mr. Gazzam remo\ed his law- 
offices to Philadelphia, lie was one of the jn'omoters 
of the Beech Creek Railroad in 1882 (at that time 
known as the Beech Creek, Clearfield, and South-western 
Railroad), a railwa)- beginning at Jerse_\- .Shore and ha\-- 
ing its terminus at the thri\ing borough of (jazzam. 
He is President of the Philadelphia Finance Company, 
the Hiiilgewater Cordage Company (Philadelphia), the 
Keiiilworth Inn Company and Keiiilwoith Land Com- 
pan\- (Ashe\-ille, North Carolina), the I'.touah Iron 
Com])an_\' (Georgia), and the Wilkesbarre and Western 
R.u'iroad Conipan\- (Pennsylvania). He is Vice-Pres- 
id.nl of the Ouaker City National Bank (Philadelphia), 
of the .\nies- Bonner Comjum}' (Toledo, Ohio), Auer 
Light Coni|)an)- (.South America), Central Coal aiul Coke 
Company 1 Pennsylvania), Dent's Run Coal Company 
(Pennsylvania). He is director in the Spring Garden 
Insurance Company (Phihulelphia ), the Delaware Com- 
paii)', and eight other cor|)orations, making a total of 
tweiity-si.K corporations in which he is a director. 

Despite these great business interests, Mr. Gazzam h.is 
been able to devote great attention to literary and otlier 
pursuits. He has been three times elected President of 
the PennsyKania Club, a proniineiit Republican club of 
Philatleljihi.c He is a life member of the Pennsylvania 
Historical .Societ\% the Iviirniount Park Art Association, 
and of the Horticultural Societ\', and is a member of the 
I'nion League Club of Pliil.ulelpliia, of the Philadelphia 
Cricket Club, of the Law\-ers' Club, and of the Ger- 
mantown Cricket Club, of Philadelphia, the American 
.Academy of Political and .Social .Science, Uni\ersity 
Arch.x'ological Association, the Pennsylvania Society for 
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Citizens' Municipal 
Association, the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, 
and the Pennsvdvania Fish Protecti\-e Association. 



MAKERS OF PIIII-ADIiLPIIIA. 



219 



IIAI.Si:V j. TIBKAI.S. 

I I.\I,>i-.V J. rilii',.\i,> was Ixiiii near Austin, Texas, 
Dccfinhor 7, 1S44, his parents liavinj; Ijccn ani^nL; the 
caiK' inli.ihitants nf that then fVonticr State an<l idrnlilicil 
with its stininL; history. IK- liinisrU' txpriiciucd unc 
(if thr innniniiit perils of h'nntier \\\v while still a child, 
haxinn" tjie unusual e\[)erience of beini; l)itten by a I'altle- 
snake when but four x'cars of at^c. l*"orlunately, 1)\' tJic 
piiinipt .nid elticii'nt use of ix-nudial atjents, the danger 
was a\'erted and the life ol the imperilled child saxed. 

Sliiirtly after this peiilnus incident in his cai'cer, his 
parents diid, and he was taken to Brooklyn. Xew \'ork', 
and soon afterw artls, when but \\\v \'ears ol a^e, to Prince 
William County, \'ii;^inia. lo the residence of his inland- 
fatllei, w llo h,ul pui'chasetl ln'i'e a \alnal)li- estate-. This 
Lfentleinan soon afterwards died, and the child w.is |)laced 
in charge of a L;uaiilian rcsitling' in Connecticut, lo which 
State lie was now taken. His career liitliei'to had been 
one ol fre(|ucnt chani;e ol location, but ( 'oinieclicul re- 
mained liis home duriiiL; the reniainini; period of his 
buyllood, ilis i-duc, ilion bein;_; recei\ed in the Milleial 
Springs Militar\' Institul'' at Cromwell, in that Slate. 

The militai')' training which he obtained in this institu- 
tion was soon to be of ser\ice to him. J'he Ci\il War 
broke ont, and on .\ugust 5, 1S62, when still ni>t eigh- 
teen years of age, he i-nlisted in the Twentieth Coii- 
nccticnt Volunteers, and was made coloi-bcarei' of his 
regiment. His military careei' was ,ni acti\e,md exciting 
one, and duiing it he had a personal experience of an 
imcommon and Ij)- no me.ms agreeable charactei', w Inch 
it needed all his patriotic ferxor to \a\'W immo\-ed. idiis 
was the dc-struction by the l'"e(.leral troops, beioii: his eyes, 
of liis X'ii'ginia propei't\'. the mansicjii in which some o| 
his years of childhood had been spent, and which had 
become his o\\ n on his grandfither's death. W.ir is no 
resjjecter of persons, as Mr. I'ibbals learnt-d on this e\iiit- 
ful occasion. He continued to serve his countiy till the 
ciul of the war, liis jieriod of militar\' life contimu'ng for 
nearU' three \'ears, jiart of which was spent in important 
service in the medical dep.irtment of tlie army. He was 
lionorably discharged at Washington. June 29, 1865. 
lie had ni>l )-et reached the age of manhoixl, though he 
liad served tiiree years as a soldier in the greatest war of 
the ninetecntli centur\'. 

After ills discharge from the ,irm\-, ]\Ir. Tibbals Ijcgan 
the business career whicli he has since diligently prose- 
cuted. His business life began in Newark, New Jersey, 




where he engaged in the drug l)usiness. Ht: afterward.s 
took a position in New ^'oiT city, and h'om there, in 
1870, came to I'hil.idelphia, having in his several years' 
expeiience gained a thoi'ough knowledge of the drug 
busiiu.'ss. I li-re In- acceptc'd a position with the Kc\-stone 
Chenn'cal Companv, and remained in their em]i]oyment 
foi- a number of x'ears, actively engaged in the various 
duties of till- concern and familiarizing himself with all 
the details of chemical manufacture. In 1880 he as.so- 
ciated himsi-lf w ith the Ciuaiantee Chemical Conipanv' as 
chenust, and m 1891 he purchased the business, which 
he now conducts in the exten.sive chemical manufactory 
at No. Ji^o Race .Street. 

Mr. Tibbals manied, in 1867. the only daughter of a 
prominent ( 'oinieclicut merchant, and has a family of one 
S(jn ,md three daughters, liis son is .at present associ- 
ated with him in business, the name of tlie hiin being 
cliangeil lo II. j. Tibb.ds, .Son iS: Comjiaiiy. He has 
long been a member, and is ,1 past officer, of the George 
(i. Meade I'osl, ,\o. I, (ir.md Army of the Re[)ul)lic, 
Department of l'enns_\lvania ; is connected with \arious 
secret, social, and political organizatii>ns, antl is actively 
interested in all the munici|)al concerns of the city. It 
may be said to his ciedit thai he is particulai'K- in- 
terested in the benevolent and [ihilanthropic woik of 
the citv, and is an active member of and worker in a 
number of the more useful charitable institutions of 
Phikulelphia. 



220 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




SAMUHI, G. DhCOURSHY. 

Samuel G. DeCouksev, President of the Western New 
York and Pennsylvania Railroad Company, was born 
September 28, 1S39, at Oueenstown, Oucen Anne Count}-, 
]\Iar\-land. He is descended fi'oni a family of the early 
settlers in that State, who came to America with Lord 
Baltimore, and a large estate held until recently b}- a 
branch nf the famil\- bears the n.uiie of " Lord's Gift," 
significant of its presentation to the first American De- 
Courseys by the founder of the colon\\ The luiglish 
branch of the family — the niUlle there being spelled de- 
Courcy — -trace their descent from a follower of William 
the Conqueror, and ha\e a modern representatixe in the 
Earl of Kinsale, Ireland, who has the unique privilege 
of wearing his hat in the presence of England's king. 
This honor was granted by King John, in acknowledg- 
ment (if an important service done him b_\- one of the 
earlier members of the fuiiih'. 

J\lr. IJeCoursey's ancestral famil\- also includes Captain 
Lambert Wickes, his great-great- uncle, who commanded 
during the Re\'(.ilutinnar\- War the sloop-of-\\ar " Re- 
prisal," commissioned in Philadeli)hia in 1776, and the 
first vessel commissioned by the Lnited States govern- 
ment. Captain Wickes did im[)(irtant service to the 
American cause, lie took I'ranklin to I'rance as United 
States Minister to that countr_\-, and, as Gibbon the his- 
torian tells us, his e.\[)loits had a strong influence in in- 
ducing P' ranee to aid the struggling colonies in their war 
for independence. Captain Semmes, in his "Thirt\- Years 
Afloat," also refers to Captain W'ickes's exploits. 

Mr. DeCoursey was educated at St. James's College, 
Washington Count)-, ?vlar)-land, but left school in his 



fifteenth year, and in August, 1854, came to Philadelphia, 
where he began his business life in the establishment of 
Henry Farnum & Co., then one of the leading dry-goods 
iniporters of the cit_\-. After a period of service with 
this house, he entered that of Alfred Slade & Co., com- 
mission dealers ill domestic dry goods. His years of 
serxice with these firms ga\e him a thorough knowledge 
of the business, and in 1863 he started a business enter- 
prise of his own, in company with two partners, the firm 
name being DeCourse\-, Hamilton & Exans. This es- 
tablishment was situated on Chestnut Street above Third, 
its line being that with which Mr. DeCoursey had become 
familiar, — dr}--goods commission. 

In 1864, Mr. DeCoursc}' married Miss Lizzie Otto 
Barchi}-, daughter of the late Andrew C. Barclay, a very 
proniinent merchant and shipper of the earl)- part of the 
centur\-. His fimil\- consists of two daughters. Antoin- 
ette and lunily, and one son, John B. DeCourse)-, who is at 
present a student in Princeton College. Mr. DeCoursey 
continued acti\-el\- engaged in business until 1876, enter- 
ing during part of his business life into the manufacture of 
linseed oil. Ha\-ing acquired an interest in the Western 
New York- ,-uul l'enns)-lvania Railroad Coi-i-ijiaii)-, an 
enterprise which had attracted much Philadelphia capital, 
on a change in the management of tliis road, Mr De- 
Course)- was elected a member of its Board of Directors, 
his abilit)- in which official position soon gained him an 
election to the office of \ ice-president. This jjosition he 
held for four years, and so acceptably to directors and 
stockholders, that in 1S92 he was elected president of 
the roatl. ( )n April I, 1893, the obligations of the road 
being so heav)- that it was forced to go into temporary 
bankiuptc)-, Mr. DeCourse)- was appointed its Receiver. 
He is now with others actixel)- engaged in the task of 
reorganization, ami is hopeful that the concern will be 
brought to a stable financial conditicin within a reason- 
able period. 

Pile Western New York and Penns)-l\-ania Railroad 
has its princip.d termini in Buffalo and Rochester, from 
w hich cities it extends southward b)- a number of brandies 
into Pennsylvania. 

One of its branches passes Chautauqua cii roiiic to 
Oil Cit)- and New Castle, Penns)-l\ania, and another 
reaches Emporium, in the same State, the total length 
of line being abiuit six hundred and fifty miles. At 
Emporium it connects with the Philadelphia aiul luie 
division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and by this con- 
nection affords the shortest route between Buffalo, Phila- 
delphia, Baltimore, and Washington. The road does a 
valuable bu.siness in coal, petroleum, lumber, and other 
products. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



221 



PAUL BHCK. JR. 

1'aul ]?I':ck. Jr., an cniinciit nicrch.int and |)liilaiUhro- 
pist of the last ami caily part nf the present centui'v, was 
born in Phila(lel])hia about 1760. The cIcIli- P.uil l^eck 
was a German 1)\- birth, the elescemlant of an ancient 
and inniuiitial family of the old city <>f XuremberL;, who 
emii^ratcd to this countr)- and made I'liihidelphia his 
home aliout the mitldle of the eii^hteenth centm-y. ^\ftei- 
receixini; such (.)i-diiiary education as was (ibtainable at 
that time, his son and n.imesake was, according; to the 
custom of that tlay, apprenticed when fourteen years of 
age to learn the mei'cantile Inisiness. He h.id not loni; 
been thus en;4ai;ed, however, when the W'ai' of American 
Independence bei;an, and he was cni-olletl in the b'irst 
Battalion of Infmtry, and marclletl as fir as Lancaster. 
He was .still very v'ounL;. but made many fiieiuls in the 
arm\', his acipiaintance with whom was renewed in later 
years. 

After the war, haxiilL; then attained his majoiit}', Air. 
Ik-ck stalled a mercantile business in a small way in 
partnershi[) with James CaliJuell, the firm cnntinuin^' 
until 17S7, when Mr. Caklwell ilied, leaxini; him to con- 
tinue the business alone. The venture proved a hisjjhl)- 
successful one, larj^^ely throuL;h the eneri^'y and nierc.mtile 
ability developed by Mr. Heck. At the end of his first 
j'car's trade his wealth .miounted to but /"4000 in Penn- 
sylvania currency, }'et in ten vears he had inci'eased this 
to i,"6o,OC)0, and in fifty \'ears later, so piofitable had his 
business proved, he was the possessor of at that time, the 
great sum of 5'>250,000, ami ranked among the wealth- 
iest of the merchants of Philadelphia, 

During his business career Mr. Beck had been a\'erse 
to public office, and had declined to serve in any capac- 
ity but tliat of Port A\'arden, which office he accepted 
and hekl for man}' v'ears. DLiring this jieriod he was 
instrumental in carrying into execution the projected 
canal to connect the waters of the Delaware and Chesa- 
peake Bays, a canal which Ikis since then been in active 
service, and which is now proposed to wiilen and deepen 
to fit it as a portion of the projected line of ship canals 
from New York southward, interior to the .Atlantic coast, 
and intended alike for military anil mei'cantile purjjoses. 
Mr. Beck also took a strong interest in the development 
of art in America, and was one of the founders and sus- 




tainers of the Philadelphia Academ\' of Fine Arts. His 
work in the promotion of art in this direction was paral- 
leled b\' simil.ir labi.irs in the promotion of literature, the 
successful f'>rniation of the Historical .Society of Penn- 
s)'lvania owing much to his efforts, while lie was one of 
the founders of and a liberal contributor to the Appren- 
tices' and Mercantile Liljraries. These xarious institu- 
tions have grown to be among the most important of the 
older associations of Philadelphia, and ha\'e been of the 
highest atlvantage to its citizens. 

He was eciualK' interested in charitable matters, being 
for many \'ears treasurer of Christ Church Hospital, and 
Presideiit of the Deaf and I.)umb .\sylum, Iioth of which 
bene\'olent institutions owed much to his sup|)ort in their 
early d,i_\'s. He was also f )r eighteen yeai's manager of 
the American .Sunda_\'-School Uriion. Mr. Beck was, 
religiousl}', a member of the Protestant I'lpiscopal Cliurcll, 
but, while a consistent Churchman, he was liberal to all 
creeds, and ga\e freelv t<> their sup|)oit. Prominent 
among his donations in this direction was the gift of 
a lot of ground and Si 0,000 in monev to .St, Paul's 
Methodist Church, .\fler a life sjient in active busi- 
ness and in liberal aid of charitable, artistic, and lite- 
rar\' institutions, he died in Philadelphi.i, December 22, 
1844. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JOHN BAIRn. 

John I'lAiKii was Ixirn ncir Lmidi mdcrry, Ireland, in 
1820, anil hroiiL^Jit tn this cuuntiy when an infant 1)_\' liis 
father, who seltleil in I'hiladelphia in the old distiiet of 
Sprinjj; darilen. where he carried on the lousiness of cop- 
persniitji. I'lie boy received a common school education, 
but bet^an work while \-er)' youni;-, and was apprenticed 
to a marble cutter when of proper a;j;e. He not onl\- 
learned this business thorou;_;hl\-, Init by industi)- and 
econoni)- sa\ed eiiouj^h money to st.irt a small business 
f)r hinisell at twenty-one \ ears ot aL;e. His yard was 
at first on RidLje A\enue near Sprini;' Garden Street, but 
was succecdeil later by a lar^ei' ami bettei' one on Spring 
Garden Street near Tliirteenth Street. Mr. liaird sought 
earnestly to improx'e himself taking lessons in di'awing, 
studying arcliitectui'e ami oinanientation, and developing 
an artistic taste that l)ecanie of great ser\ice to him in 
his business. 

He sought to exteml his business b\- cheapening its 
processes while impro\-ing its product, and was the first 
to employ steam-ijowcr in cutting marble slabs. His 
ti'ade in marble monuments of staniJard design grew to 
large proportions and extended to all parts of the country, 
and by 1852, in which )-ear his brother, Matthew Baird, 
joined him as paitner, it had become extensive anil highly 
profitable. Two \-ears afterwards, Matthew liaird with- 
drew to enter into partnership w ith Matthias \V. ]5aldwin, 
of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, and John Ikiird con- 
tinued businc'ss alone. In one of his journeys to New 
I'.ngland to buy marble, he took advantage of an op- 
portunil}- offered to purchase one of the largest marble 
quarries in the country at a \ei_\- advantageous price, and, 
after furnishing from this (|uarr)- the marble from which 
the Capitol at Washington and other great stiaictures 
were built, he disposed of it at a handsome jirofit. He 



afterwards engaged largelv in the importation of foreign 
marbles, a business which is still carrieil on extensively 
by the firm of John Baird & Sons. 

Mr. Baird invested extensively in real estate, and 
crecteil many rows of handsome ilwellings, reserving for 
himself a building lot at the nortli-east corner of Broad 
Street and Columbia Avenue, where he built for himself 
one of the most attractive residences in the cit\-. His 
later busincs.s relations were those of President of the 
City National Bank, which he held from 1878 to 1888,- 
President of the Cambria Mining and Manuficturing 
Companv, and President of the Continental Hotel Com- 
panv, in which he was a large stockholder. 

Hming his whole life Mr. Baird took an active interest 
in public affairs. In 1 851 he was one of the organizers 
of the Spring Garden Institute, and a large contributor 
to its fiuids. In 1878 he became its vice-presitlent, and 
entered energeticalh' into the work of ile\-eloping its 
present art and mechanical schools. At a later date he 
became its ])resident, and ilevoteil much of his time to 
the furtherance of its night drawing-schools and work- 
shop schools, in which he took a particulai- interest. He 
was active in the furtherance of tlie Centennial Exposi- 
tion, being a member of its Board of Finance, and the 
designer of Agricultuial Hall. He also took on himself 
the great task of instalHng the exhibits, and performed 
tliis difficult task most acceptably. His final service to 
the city in this ilii'ection was the Iniililing of the accurate 
model of the Centennial giounds and buildings, which 
was niaile at his order at a cost of over $25,000, and 
afterwanls presented to the citv. 

Mr. Baird was an active supporter of other public in- 
stitutions than those nametl. He aided in organizing the 
Pennsylvania Museum and School of Imluslrial Art, and 
was at one time its vice-president. He became Vice-Pres- 
iilent of the School of Design for Women, and helped to 
establish it in its new home at Broad and Master Streets 
and to extinguish its debt. He was a trustee of the 
Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades, and its 
first president. He was one of the corporators of the 
Ha\-es Mechanics' Home. He was President of the old 
Mechanics' I^xchange, and was a liberal supporter of 
public institutions generall)-. Municip.d reform move- 
ments enlisted his earnest support, and the rounding of 
street corners with a liberal cur\e and the removal of 
obstructions from corners, recently adopted b\' Mr. W'in- 
drim, was first suggested by Mr. Baird. For fort\- \-ears 
he was a member of the Piotestant Episcopal Church of 
the Nativit)', and attended its services regularly. 

In the death of Mr. Baird, which occurred on P'ebru- 
ary 13, 1894, Philadelphia lost one of its foremost citizens, 
one who took an active part in everything that concerned 
its welfare and freely gave money, time, and thouglit to 
the advancement of its interests. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



223 



AMOS R. IJTTLH, 

Amos R. LlTlLK is a n,iti\c of Massachusetts, liaxini; 
been bom at M.irslifiLld, in that St ite. Jul_\- 27, 1SJ5. He 
is a son of Hon. I'ldward I'. Little, aivl ,1 Ljranilsdii ( if (_"( <m- 
niodore Georj^e Little, i>i" the L'nite<l States na\ y, who 
served as an officer during;" tlie Ke\ olutionary War, aiul 
was in command of the L'nited .States hiL;.ite " ISoston" 
durint^' the brief warlike outbreak between b' ranee and 
this country in iSoi. Ah'. Little's etlucational a(.i\an- 
tages were such a^ usuall_\- fdl to the lot of f ii-mer>' sons, 
it being obtaineil mostly at home, but to some extent at 
boarding-.sch()uls in Saneiwieh and I'roxitlence, l\.lio(.le 
Island. 

At the age of nineteen, the atlv-enturous youth bade 
farewell to the fmiih' homestead and maile his way to 
Philadeliihia. 1 lis ambition was to embark in a mer- 
cantile career, of whose duties and lesponsibilities, how- 
ever, he was entirel)' ignorant, his jirevious expeiiencc 
being that of home-life on a fu'm. lUit he possessed the 
qualities of energ\-, integrity, and tleterminatioii, and iii. 
better foundations for success couhl ha\e been a-^kei.1. 
His business life commenced in a coLintry store at Miles- 
town, l'enns\-l\'ani,i, his remuner.ition while there being 
his board and five tlollars per month. Here he remainetl 
a year, gaining his first sight into mercantile traffic. i\t 
the eml of this time his eagerness to .uhance boi'c him 
to the cit\-, where he obtained a position in the wholesale 
honse of Maynard & Halton, on Market Street, Phila- 
delphia, his salary lieing now three hundred ilollars per 
year. He remained here until 1849, receiving scant}- atl- 
vances in his salar\', and in that \ear married the daughter 
of George Peterson, a retired merchant. In the succeed- 
ing )X'ar he began business in the dr\'-goods commission 
trade, under the firm name of Little & Peterson. P'rom 
time to time afterwards changes took place in this firm, it 
becoming first Withers, Little & Peterson; then Little M- 
Stokes ; at a later date, Little, Stokes & Co. ; aiul fin dly, 
in 1866, Amos R. Little & Co. 

Throughout his whole business career Mr. Little was 
steadiK" successful. .\nd in addition to wealth, he won 
the higher rewartl from the business community of a 
reputation tor strict integrit}', honorable dealing, pi'ompt 
fulfilment of.dl his eiluasjenients, aiul a reaiK' and honest 




discharge of liabilities. Those qualities, with his liusi- 
ness juiigmeiit and caution, carri;-d him safeK' through 
.dl financial troubles, and kept him in the tide of success 
thioughoul his whole mercantile career. 

Mr. Ijttle had in his _\'outhful da\-s acc|uired a strong 
taste fir gunning and fishing, which remained \\ith him 
through life. Pwice a \'ear it was his custom to put aside 
business cares for a ])eriod of indulgence in these open 
air [jursuits, a practice to which he attributed his con- 
tinued sound he.dth. In 1 .SS3 he retired h-om business 
with an amjile competence, and, in compain- with his 
wife, made a three \'e,irs' tour aiound the world. 

Ml'. Little's cueer was not strictly conline<! to the 
demands nf the store, lie took an iictixe jxirt in the 
preliminary steps towards the Centennial ]-l\position of 
1876, being a member of its ]5oaril of Finance, on which 
he rendereil efficient ser\ice. He has since then become 
connected with some of the most prominent institutions 
and corporations of Philadelphia, holding among his 
\arious positions that of a (.lirector in the Pemisyhania 
Railroad Company. Though no longer engaged in 
mercantile trade, he has by no means withdrawn from 
active business interests, with which he keeps steadily 
in touch. 



224 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




THOMAS I'OTTHK. 

'^llllM\-^ I'ni ri'.K was born in Cmnity Tyionc, Ire- 
land, anti was br<)n;j;ht to this coiintr}' by his father in 
182S, when nine years of aLjc He came from a famil_\' 
w ho li.ul formerl)- ijcen larLje lailded [jrojirieturs in Ire- 
lantl, Geiirt;"e Potter, one of Crnniwell's officers, lia\ing 
receiAcd larL;"e j^rants (if land fi>r his ser\ices in I'ednciny 
the ii'bellidiis pai't}' in Irel.ind. These yr.nits were con- 
hrnied mi the accession of Charles II. The later Geor_t;;e 
Potter, f.ither of the subject of our sketch, had inherited 
none of th^-se lands, and left but a small pro|)crt\- at his 
death, which took place shortl}' after his ari'ix.d in Phila- 
delphia. His son Thomas had hi.en desiiiuis ol entering 
the ministr)-. Hut the fither's de.ith obliged him tn forego 
this pLn'pose, and appl\- himself to the maintenance of 
the famil}', which, besides himself, consisted of liis inother 
anil three sisters. 

1 lis business life w.is begun in the Push Hi!! ( )il-Cloth 
Works of Isaac M.icauley, carried on in the Ijuilding 
which Jiail fi irnierly been the residence of lames Ham- 
ilton, twice ciilonial goxernor of PcnnsyK ,mia. While 
engaged in learning this business, he applied himself ,it 
night to diligent study, under his mother's tuition, and 
succeetletl in gaining an excellent education. In the oil- 
cloth works he proved so earnest and intelligent that 
after a few \'ears Mr. Macauley made him manager of the 
works. In 1S3S, when nineteen _\-e,u-s of age, Mr. Potter 
establisliecl himself in business, and shortly afterwards 
purchaseil the ikish Hill factory from Mr. Macaule\', and 
began that career of business success and progress which 
has made the Oil-Cloth and Linoleum establishment of 



Thomas I'otter, Sons & Co., the most extensixe of its 
kind in the I'nited .States. In 1870 Mr. Potter sold the 
buildings at Bush Hill, antl renio\-ed to the location of 
the present extensive works of the firm at .Second and 
\'en uigii Streets. 

Mr. Potter was married in 1845 to Miss Atlaline C. 
Bi>wer, a grand-daughter of General Jacub Power, who 
ser\ed in the arnu' thnuighnut the Re\<ilution, and was 
one of the founders of the .Society of the Cincinnati. 
He afterwards held many positions of municipal and 
financial responsibility, being elected in 1853 C'onnnis- 
sioner (if his district, and afterwards Schoul Director and 
-Schoiil Controller. .Shortly after the consolidatidn of 
the city he was elected to Councils, m\i\ was immediateh- 
appointed chairman (if the .School Ccnnnittee. His in- 
terest in the suljject (if education continued through life, 
and his influence in schddl matters w.is so useful that in 
1890, tweKe }'ears aftei' his death, the Board of P^luca- 
tion ga\-e, in his honor, the name of " The Thomas Potter 
School" to the largest public school in the cit}- (Fourth 
and Clearfield Streets). 

.\t a later date Mr. Potter became chairman df the 
P'inance Committee of Councils, ami as such to(.ik a 
leading part in municipal legislation. In 1 861 he carried 
thi'dLigh Councils an ordinance appointing a commis- 
sionei' to assist in sui)pdrting the families of Union vol- 
unteers from Philadelphia, and gave the use of his private 
office for carrying on the vv(.irk. He was one of the 
original members of the Union League, and in that also 
lent his aid to the sup|3ort of the families of x'olunteers, 
being a member of the committee ajipdinteil td raise 
money for that purpose. 

One of his important acts in cit\' affairs was the carry- 
ing through Common Council of a bill fdi- the erection of 
an Acatleni)- of P^ine Arts, Academy (.if Natural Sciences, 
and other educational institutions, on the squares at Broad 
and M.irket .Streets, now occupied b\- the Cit\' Plall. The 
measure was defeated, much to the regret of many pidm- 
inent citizens. He was also chiefly instrumental in the 
organization of the I'aid Fire Department, the securing 
of the eastern section df l-'airmount Park, and the pass- 
age of the bill which recpiires the citv treasurer to pay 
warrants according to date and number. 

In 1868, Mr. Potter resigned from Councils and went 
abroad for his health. After his return in 1 87 1, he 
was maile president of the City National Bank, and held 
that position till his (.leath, September 29, 1878. The 
firm is now composed of his sons, Colonel Thomas, 
Henry A., and William Potter, in association with James 
F. Hope. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



225 



FRANCIS M. BR()()KH. 

Francis jAI. I?K( kiki:. tx-l'icsidcnt nf ilu- ( 'ummci'd'al 
l'',xclianL;e of I'liilailclphi,!. was Ijurn |li1_\' 4, 1X3'), in 
Ratlnor Tdw nslii]), Delaware CuiiiUy, I'cnnsj-Kaiiia, .1 de- 
scendant of the earl\- linj^lisli and W'elsli settK-i's of this 
province. His i^n"eat-L;nin(U,ilhei- ^ei\ed as an offici r in 
the War of Independence, possessetl a lari;e estate in 
wliat is now MontL;onieiy (."ounty, and was actixely ,nul 
extensively enL;'ai;ed in niaiuificlLnini^ ,nid othei' enter- 
prises, llis L;randlathei' occupied a lar^^i' farm in what 
is known as the (iulf, — the \alley of dnlf Creek, — in 
Radnor, adjoiniilL; Montt^dniery County. I lis fuller Wiis 
the lion. l!uL;h Jones ]5i-ooke. who fir nearK' half a 
ccnturv' served in \arious public capacities, and tor man}- 
years was a State .Senator (if FennsyKania, his influence 
in the p(.ilitical affn'rs of the .State IjcinLj lart^e and com- 
nianilint;. Philadelphia is particularly indebted to this 
gentleman for her present system <if market lnjuses, he 
being tlic originator and fir a long time the I'l-esident of 
the Farmers' Market Company. Delawai'e Count)' is 
cquall)' indebted, since Metlia, its count}' scat, owes much 
of its de\'elopment to his influence and effirts. He 
erected there fiom his own means the Chestnut (iro\'e 
House, l^rooke Hall l-'em.de .Seminar)-, and man)- private 
residences, and was largel)' instiamiental in the construc- 
tion of the Philadeliihia, Medi.i, and West Chester Rail- 
road. Another important sei'\ice rendered b)- him was 1 
the location near Medi<i of the l'enns)lvinii.i .School f )i- 
P\-eble-Minded Children, lie was largel)' instrumental 
in securing, from the State Legislature, <iiipropriations fir 
the buililing and maintenance of this highl)- useful insti- 
tution. 

k'rancis !\'I. Hrooke, son of the gentlem.m just tle- 
scnbed, was educated in the public schools of Radnor 
Township till 185J, when he entered Ha\'erford College. 
1 le remained here two years, impaired health [)i'e\'enting 
the completion of his course of stud)'. He had decided 
on the study of the law, and w hen his health was restoi'ed 
he entered as a law student the office of I{dw<ii'tl I lopper, 
in Philadelphia, at the same time attendiiig lectuies in the 
Law Department of the Uni\'ersity of Penns)-l\ania. He 
was admitted to practice at the Philadelphia bar in 1859, 
and sliortl)' after\s'.irds openeil an office in .Meelia, where 
he ipiickly g;iineil a large and jjrofitable practice. 

In 1863, Mr. Brooke W'as elected district attorney of 




Delaware Count)', a position which he filled for a \'ear, 
when, his health again becoming impaired, he was re- 
luctantl)' obligii-l to withdraw from the practice of the 
law, public and pri\'ate, and de\'ote himself to some less 
exhausting pursuit. With the belief that a mercantile 
life woukl afford better op|)ortimities for phs'sical exercise, 
and be less of a mental strain, he entered upon the grain 
trade in Philadelphia, in partnershijj with Hunter Brooke, 
his )'oungest brother, the fu'm name being F. M. & H. 
Brooke. I la\'ing ample capital, the new firm was enabled 
to establish its business on a broad scale at the start, and 
has steadil)' jirosperc!.!, it being now one of the leading 
houses in that branch of traile in the cit)'. 

Mr. Brooke allied himself earl)' in llis mercantile career 
with the Comnierci.il Exchange, in wliicii his recognized 
abilil)' as a merchant induced the meiiibers to place him 
on ini[)ortant committees, ]iarticul,u'l)' those iiU'oK'iiig 
matters of legislation affecting tlie commerce of Philadel- 
phia. In 1878 he was elected President of the ICxchange. 
He .icted ill a I'eprescntative capacity for the ICxchangc 
in the C'entennial F.xposition of 1876, the Bi-Centennial 
Celebration of 1882, and the National Constitutional 
Celebration of 1887. in all oi' which his energy and abilitj' 
pro\'ed im[)ort.mt I'lemeiits of success. He is at ])i'esent 
a director of the Commercial National Bank, and is inter- 
ested in other important corporations. 



29 



J26 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




THOMAS MAY PRIRCE. 

Thomas May Pkikcf., son of C.ilcb and Mary Peirce, 
was born December lo, 1837, in Clicster, Delaware 
Count)', Penns\-Ivania. He is of P~nL;iish tlescent ; a 
lineal descendant of George Perce, who came to this 
countr_\- with William Penn and settled on a tract of land 
comprising the present township of Thoiiibuiy, l)ela\\are 
County, and the township of the same name in Chester 
County. On the maternal side he is descended from the 
Pottscs and Ma\-s, who were also among the earliest 
settlers of PennsyKania. 

When a cliild his parents removed to Philadelphia, 
and here he grew to manhood. He was educated in the 
public schonls, and was graduated, at sixteen \'ears of 
age, from the Central High School, witli the degree of 
A.B. Five years later he received the degree of A.M. 
from the same institution, ani.1 still later, the degree of 
Ph.D. from Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. 

His first venture was in the business of engraving on 
wood, which was not a financial success. He then s[)ent 
several )-ears in travel, without an}' particular object in 
view, at the end cif which time, at the scilicitatinn of his 
father, who h.id begun life as a te.ichei", he applied for a 
situation as teacher nf a district school in Springfield 
Township, Montgomery County, Penns)-lvania. Teach- 
ing proved to be his true vocation. He succeeded from 
the first, antl was soon called t<> the Norristown High 
School, and in succes.sion was changed to the Manayunk 
Grammar School, to the Monroe School, and finally to 
the Mount Vei'non Grammar School of this city. 

With this ample experience, he began, September 19, 
1865, the work of training the young for business. To 
use his own words : " When I organized the school in 



1865, I had a clear apprehension of a popular want of 
large proportions. I knew from business men that ad- 
vertisements for help were answered b\- hundreds, and 
that cases were rare in which more than one per cent, of 
the applications rose to the dignit\' of consideration. I 
did not ha\-e money, but I had time, I had \-outh, and I 
had some tlcgree of courage, and I gave nn'self to the 
work of training the ninety-nine per cent, of applicants 
who wantetl to go into business and whose previous prep- 
aration did not secure for them e\'en consideration at 
the hands of an emplo\-er." The result is known. 
Peirce School stands pre-eminent as the representative 
business school of America, coujjling a good English 
education with systematic business training. There is a 
daih' attendance of about nine hundred students, taught 
by a facult)- of thirty specialists. 

Ever on the alert to keep up with the times, a trained 
teacher himself and well inf iimed as to the preparation 
needful for success in business. Dr. Peirce hesitates not 
to test the new w hile hi_)lding on to the approved and 
successful. During the last few years has been organized 
and developed the school of shorthand and t\-pewriting, 
which now faiil\- divides honors with the conmiercial 
department. 

For many }-ears Dr. Peirce accepted engagements as 
an expert accountant and as an expert in matters of 
liandw riting, biit fifteen to tweiit)- \-ears' service in these 
pursuits, which kept him almost constantly in court, so 
impaired his eyesight that he ga\-e up engagements of 
this character, thouL>h lie had connnanded the highest fees 
e\"er paid for such services. Besides, after the removal 
I of his school to the Record Building, it grew to such a 

size as to leciuire his entire time and strength. 
; Dr. Peiice h.is not been able to spare much time 
for authorship, e.xcei)t in a few instances wdien his school 
demandetl special text-books. " Test Business Prob- 
lems ;" later, "Peirce .School Manual of Bookkeeping" 
and " Peirce College Writing-Slips ;" and later still, 
" Peirce School Manual of Business P^'orms anil Cus- 
; toms," are among tliose which he has published. 

A marked feature in connection with Peirce School 
is the Annual Graduating Exercises. The most conspic- 
uous men of the land deliver the parting words of coun- 
sel and encouragement to the young men and women 
graduates. Addresses co\-ering a period of ele\en years 
ha\'e been collectetl and published in a \'ery interesting 
\-olume of fi\-e hundred and twenty-four pages. 

Dr. Peirce is President of the 15ookkeepers' Bene- 
ficial Association, also a trustee of the Methotlist P'pis- 
copal Plospital in the city of Pliiladelphia, and treasurer 
of the Philadelphia Sabbath Association, and takes an 
active part in mo\ements intended to secure the good of 
the State and the welfare of mankind. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



227 



CHARI.ES EDMUND PUGH. 

CiiAKi.i:s I^DML'Ni) Pl(.h Was bnni at Unioinillc, Chester 
County, Pcnnsyh'ania. P"cbruar_\- 25. 1S4.?. He is tlic son 
of the late P'.lij.ih PuL;li.a well-known nieiehant of Ches- 
ter County. 

Ml'. Pui^di's eai'ly education was received at the district 
school in the \illaL;e "f l'nion\iIle. lie applied himself 
closely to study, and, when duly pi'eiiai'ed, entered the 
State Normal .School, at Millers\ ille, Lancaster County, 
PennsN'K'.inia. Here he completed a \er_\' thoroui;h 
course of stutK', and, upon graduation, went into his 
father's office as a clerk. 

Such \-ocation, liowe\ei', soon L;i'ew tlistasteful to him, 
and it did not take Iohl;' for him to ilisco\'er that his 
heart was not in the monotonous duties df a clerk in the 
retail trade. Accordiiv^ly, he deteiaiiined to secui'e a 
more congenial occupation, in which the latent cap i- 
bilities he was conscious nf possessing might be afforded 
opportunit}' for dexelopmeilt. Thus it was he left home 
at the age of twenty in search of a wider field nf useful- 
ness. Alth(jugh wholly inexperienced, through perse- 
verance he succeetled in securing a position in the emplo}' 
of the PennsyK-ania Railroad Company. 

This was in the }'ear 1859, and his work was that of a 
station agent at Ne\v[5ort, Perr\- Count}-, PennsyK-ania. 
Considd'able responsibility was attached to his duties at 
that point, tltrough which he pro\-ed his .iljility. The 
company was not slow in recognizing his merit, antl de- 
tei'mined to ad\-ance him. 

The position selected was the very important one of 
train des[)atcher. To ec|uip himself for this important 
[lost, aiul more especially to familiarize himself with all 
the details of practice and theor}- attending the lunning 
of trains, he ser\ etl si.\ months as a conductor on a j^as- 
senger train. In i S64, luuing made himself master of 
the required knowledge, he was appointed train tle- 
spatcher of the Philadelphia Division. Promotion then 
followed rapidl}-. In 1870 he was made General Agent 
of the Penns\'lvania Railroad for Philadel]}hia, and held 
this position until \'^jn. when he was again promoted to 
the office of General .Superintendent, with head-quarters \ 
at Altoona. 

He remained in this office until Oct(.ber I, 18S2, when 
he was appointed to the position of General Manager, 
with head-quarters at Philadelphia. 

During the Centennial l'"..\hibition at Philatlelijhia, in 
1876, Mr. Pugh was ordered to the Centennial stations in 
West Philadelphia, and placed in charge of the move- 
ments of all trains entering and leaving them. It is safe 
to say that ne\'er before in the historv- of American rail- 
roads had a heavier responsibilit\- becii laid upon one 
man's shoulders. 15ut the Pennsylvania Railroad illus- 






^^s^ 




\ 




trated its boasted policy of the " I'ight man in the right 
place," and this exceptionally trv-ing time of Centennial 
travel found the man com[)etent to cojjc with it. Mr. 
Pugh's labor in this regard was truly remarkable, and 
his success was the marvel of railroad men at home and 
abroad. Over three million passengers were received at 
and despatcheiJ fi'om these stations during the continu- 
ance of the I'~xhibttion, and so admirabl}- were the ar- 
rangements jierfected b_v Mr. Pugh, not onlj- for hand- 
ling such an immense number of people, but for doing 
so with every care for their comfnt and safet)-, that in 
all that time, a period of nine months, not a single 
accident occm-red. 

Mr. Pugh has abundantlv tlemonstrated his fitness for 
ev-er)- position to which he has been ap[>ointed, and his 
rapid promotion has been honorabh- earned. He is an 
indefatigable worker, untiring in the discharge of duty, 
and personally supervises the work of his immense de- 
partment. 

As General Manager of the Pennsv-lvani.i Railroad 
system, Cliarles E. Pugh demonstrated not only his great 
executive ability in developing the immense transporta- 
tion facilities of the company, but his thorough acciuaint- 
aiice with railroatling as a science, and has shown a 
knowledge of those infinite details of management in 
the multitude of dejiartmeiits under his charge attained 
only b_v mail)- vears of e.Kperience coupled with close at- 
tention to business. 

In March, 1893. Mr. Pugh was advanced to the liigh 
post of Third Vice-President of the Penn.svlvania Rail- 
road, which position he now holds. 

He is prominent in social life, and lias been for sevei'al 
years a director of the Union League. 



228 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




SUTHERLAND M. I'RHVOST. 

Sutherland M. Prevust \\•a^ Ixun in the cit\- of Phila- 
delphia, October 4, 1845. After tjie completion of his 
technical eilucation at the Polytechnic ColleL;e of IMiila- 
tlelpliia, he enteied upon the practice of his profession as 
civil en^^ineer in 1 S()4. p'rom this date to 1S71 he was 
acti\el_\- eHLjayed in makiiiL;" preliminary snr\e_\-s, locatini^ 
and constructing a number of new lines of r.ulroads, many 
of which have since come under his manaL;ement as an 
operatin_L,r official. His early work in this held identified 
liim with the construction and development of the Phila- 
delphia and I'j'ie Railroa(.l, the Northern t_'entral Railway, 
the Western Pennsylvania Railio.id, the Paltimc:)re and 
Potomac Railroad, the Atlantic <md (ireat Western Rail- 
road, the Wilminj^'ton and Reading;, now WilminL;ton ,ind 
Nortlu-in, and the New Jerse_\' West Line Railroad, now a 
part of the Del.iware, Lackawanna, and Western system. 

The success which distinLjuislied his lalxirs in these 
luulertakini^s attracted the notice of the officials of the 
Pennsylvania Railroad, always on the alei't to enlist in 
their service the best ax'ailable talent, anel on J.nuiary I, 
1 1S7 1 , he was appointed Assistant P'jv_;ineer Maintenance 
of Way of the Philadelphia Division. He held this im- 
portant position until August, 1 874, when he was pro- 
moted to the superintendenc}' of the Hedfud Division. 
On October 15, 187S, he became .Superintendent of the 
Middle Division, from which post he was transferred on 
July I, 1881, to the like position on the Philadelphia 
Division. In October, 1S82, he w.rs .ulv.mcetl to the 
position of General Superintendent of the Pennsvlvania 
Railroad P)ivision, with office at Altoona. This is a dis- 
tinction w hich hokls the first ])l,ice in the ambition of every 
division superintendent, and it is well untlerstood that it 
is reached only through merit, indLislry, ,ind persev eiing 
effort. Mr. Prevost's excellent ti'aininij in the earlier 



years of his career, his fmiiliarity with the entire Pcnn- 
.sylvania system, and his thorough knowledge of practical 
railroad work admirably fitted him iov tlie discharge of 
its arduous antl res|)onsiI)le duties. Plis record as general 
su])erintendenl rillected the utmost credit on his abilit}-, 
and in May, 1885, he was honoi'ed with promotion to the 
office of General Superintendent of Transportation of the 
PemisyK.inia Railro.id system east of Pittsburg <uid 
Erie. I'p to that (kite this ofTice h.id not been in e.vist- 
ence, but the increasing iluties and manifoLl respc)iisi- 
bilities devolving upon the general manager rendered it 
necessary that he should be in some measure relieved of 
a portion of the woik' incident to the operation of the 
growing system, and the office was created iov that [)ur- 
pose, Mr. Prevost being selected as its first incumbent. 

The (ieneral .Superintendent of Transportation nia\- be 
ternietl the executive officer of the operating department. 
In a S)'stem so comprehensive as the Pennsvdvania, pcs- 
sessing so vast a traffic in freight and passengers, it is 
hard to overestimate the responsibilities of such a post. 
It is the eye of the operating ilepartnient of the road, 
and its vigilance must be unceasing. Coolness and nerve, 
prudence antl good judgment, sagacity and promptness, 
untiring energy anil unflagging industrv' are some of the 
attributes which must m.irk the administration of the 
office. Mr. Prevost has given abundant evidence of the 
possession of these characteristics in an eminent degree. 
By his contemporaries he is esteemed among the most 
able practical railroad officials of the dav'. He not only 
stands high in the councils of his own company, but his 
high char.icter, his fu'rness in all his dealings, and his 
unc]uestioned ability render him exceedingly popular, 
and have made for him a distinctive place in the general 
railroad world. 

The vvide-s[)reail devastation of the company's pro[)erty 
b_v the Johnstown Hood called out the best energies of 
everv' officer of the line, P'.ach was assigned to a tlif- 
ferent field of (luty. It fell to Mr. Prevost's lot to remain 
at the helm in this gity in cliarge of the movement of 
new materials and sup[)lies to the scene of active opera- 
tions in the flooded districts. This involv ed the e.xercise 
of the utmost promptness, ceaseless labor, and rare 
executive abilitv': but it is a matter of history that the 
stupendous Work of I'ehabilitating the line was accom- 
plished in the face of the greatest obstructions in an 
incredibh' short space of time. Every official of the 
company won conspicuous credit in this crisis, and a fair 
share of it is justh' accortled to him who sat day and night 
with his hand practically on the telegraph key guiding the 
movements of relief trains and re-establishing the service 
as fast as the gaps in the bi'oken lines were closed. 

Mr. Prevost is now General Manager of the Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad, having been appointed to that position 
in March, 1893. 



MAKERS OF PHILADRLPIffA. 



WILLIAM H. FORI). M.l). 

Di';. Wir.i.iAM IIi'.xuv Fdkh, ht-iiiL;- an acti\c nuiiilicr 
ami (ilTiccr i>f the lioanl xf Health nf I'hil.ulclpiii.i, was 
born ill that city, (Jctobcr 7, 1S3Q. \\v was cdiic.itcd at 
Princeton College, from which he L;ra(hiateil in 1 .S60, 
anil afterwards entered the Jeffei'son Medical COllcLje, of 
Philadelphia, where he graduated as ALD. in 1S63. In 
i86j he iLC(_i\ed an aiipi lintmeiit <is actinc;" medical cadet 
in the L'nited States arnu', and in I 863 became assistant 
sLn'i^edii in h'l )rt\-ti nirth RcLjinunt, iVnnsyKania X'nlun- 
teer militia. Shdrtly alUi"\\ar(K he was pi-nmoted sur- 
geon (if the I'egiment, in which posilii.n he seived until 
after the b.Utle uf ("lettx-^hurg and the retieat of I .ee into 
Virginia. 

In 1865 Dr. L'liid went to luirope fir iLirlher study in 
his [)riifessi(in, and remained there thiee years. Return- 
ing to Philailelphia in 1868, he became m the f illnwing 
)-ear assistant denicinstrator in the Philadelphia .Schi k il of 
Anatoni}-, and in 1870 sei\ed as associate etlitor <in the 
Medical Times. In the f illowing \-ear he was appointed a 
member of the ]->oard nf Health. He has continued to 
ser\-e on that body till the [iresent time, being appointed b_\- 
the courts for several successive terms of three \'ears each. 
aiKl b_\' the dilTerent mayors imiler the new cit)' charter. 
Since 1872 he has edited the Annual Kepoi'ts of the 
BoartI of Health, and comiiiled the \ ital statistics of the 
city for the \'ears \'^']2-~'-^. In 187:; he was made sec- 
retar\- of the Hoard of Health, <iikI in 1877 its president. 
To this office he was again elected in i88(), and has 
servetl as President of the lioard for elexeii }-ears. 

In 1876 I)i'. P'ord served in the bod}' of t'entennial 
Medical Commissioners as Chaiiaiian of the Committee 
on Sanitary Science. Since that period he h.is acted fir 
a luuiiber of \-ears as Chairman of the ]5o.u"cl ot Managers 
of one of the .Societies fir ()rganizing Chai'ity, and as 
member of several other medical antl cliai'itable societies. 
and ha.s been a contributor to wirious medical journals, 
principally on sanitary topics, 'i'he treatise on " Soil and 
Water,'' in Buck's " H)-giene and Public Health,"' is from 
his pen, and he is also the authcu-of " Health)' Dwelling- 
Houses, and how to BuiUl, Drain, anil Ventilate them," 
and of the " Piinciples of .Sanitary Inspection." 

He inaugurated the odorless s_\-stem of cleaning wells 
in 1875, the public collection of garbage, and was mainh- 
instrumental in establishing a department for regulating 
house-drainage in Phil.ulelphia. The organiz.ition of a 
department of milk-insiiection, and tlie establishment of 
a thoroughly ec|uipped department for milk antl food 
anal_\'sis were due to his efforts. In 1 887 he was ap- 
pointed Chairman of the Cix'il .Service Medical l-"x,imin- 
ing Board for Plliladelphia, which he resigned in l8ijj. 

In l8ij2 Dr. Foril preparei.1, ,uk1 urged until its adop- 
tion, sanitary legislation which abolished the practice of 
keeping swine and depositing garbage within the city 




limits. This action compelled the construction o| works 
fill' the cremation of g.irbage, several of which have re- 
cently been erected, thus ladding the- citv of aminying 
and elangeroiis nuisances of long standing. In I S93 he 
contiibuted to the "Supplement of the Reterence Hand- 
book of the Medical Sciences" a number ol practical 
articles on sanitarv' inspection of dailies, dairy-t.n-ms. and 
milk shops; railroad cars ,md stations; steam- and ferr}-- 
boats and stations; v\ith important suggestions in I'cfer- 
ence to the prevention of contagious and infections tlis- 
eascs. In these articles he pointed out the sanitary- 
innovations demanded in these- fields ol public service. 

In i8i;3 he planned and supcivised fir the Board of 
Health the constiaiction, and fitting up with all modern 
a|ipliances, of a large [lavilion hospital foi' the tieatment 
of cholera and othei" contagious diseases; and also 
planned and supervised the constiaiction ol a large and 
complete disinfecting apparatus, which is not siirjiassed 
in eflectiveness by any similar disinfecting plant in the 
country. He was also kirgely instrumental in organizing 
a medical inspection service, li_v which all dangeroLis com- 
municable diseases can lie promptly brought under the 
official supervision of the Ho.ird of Ile.ilth. In addition, 
he com|)ileil the circulai's issueil by the Board of Health 
on "The Restriction and I'revention of Contagious ,ind 
Infectious Diseases." 

.\s will be perceived fi-om the abov i- st.iteuients. Dr. 
Lord has fir m.mv ve.n's jxist been an earnest advocate 
and enthusiastic promoter of ever\- measure tending to 
advance the .sanitarv interests of the city, though, while 
Will-king assitliiously in this field of dut\-, he has con- 
tinued actively engaged in the practice of his profession. 
The important ])rogress which Philadelphia has made in 
sanitar\- conilition within tlu- past ipi.trter of a centurv is 
largely due to Dr. P'ord's earnest and intelligent effort.s, 
and his interest in this direction is still vital and active. 



230 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




GHORGH 1). M(CRHAKY. 

GEi)K(ir, Di:.\Ki)OKi'F McCkearv, City TreasLircr of 
Philadel])hia, was born at the xillayc of \'ork SpiiiiLjs, 
Adams Count}-, Pennsylvania, on the 2.Sth of Se])tember, 
i84r). When he was two \'ears of age his father remo\ed 
to .Schu)lkiII Cmmty, where he enil:)arked suecesskilly 
in the business of eoal mining; his interests in this direc- 
tion in time became extensi\e. In the entl lie accumu- 
lated a large fortLine. The son's education was obtainetl 
in the schools of Tremont, Tamai]ua, ami Mauch C hunk, 
places of successi\e residence nl his father, but at the 
age of fifteen he was sent to Saunders's Military Institute, 
and in 1864 was entered as a student in the Uni\ersit\- 
of PennsyKania. lie gra(lLiate<l froni that institution in 
1867. 

Ml'. MeCreary began his business education in the em- 
ployment (if the Honcybrook Coal Company, a concern 
of which his father was president, and in 1S70 entered 
into business on his own .iccount as a member of the 
firm of Whitney, AIcCrear\- & Kemmercr, coal miners 
and shippers, he thus following the line of business in 
which his fuller IkkI been so successfully engaged. 

In 1879 Mr. MeCreary withdrew fi-oni this firm, dis- 
posing of his interest in this business, and devoting him- 
self to the administration of his father's lartie estate. 



This position brought him still more actixely inti> connec- 
tion with the mining interests of the -State, he becoming, 
as the representative of his father's investments, a director 
in the U|iper Lehigh Coal Company, the Nescopec Coal 
Comijany, the Pioneer Mining and Manuficturing Com- 
pany of Alabama, the Lochiel Furnace Compan_\-, and 
the Philadelphia Mortgage and Trust Company. In 1.S87 
he organized the Market Street National Bank, and be- 
came its first \ice-president. 

While thus acti\eh' engaged in business interests, Mr. 
McCreaiy tui'Ued his attention largeh' to social affairs, 
while his w.uaii sympathy with his fellow-men brcuight 
him into intimate association w ith man)' of the charitable 
organizations of the city. Among these may be named 
the PennsyKania Humane Societ}', organized to encour- 
age by suitable rewards acts of courage, charit}-, and 
heroism. Mr. MeCreary is president of this useful asso- 
ciation, and is \ice-president <if the .Sanitarium Associ- 
ation of Philadelphia antl of the P"ranklin Reformatory 
Hume, director of the .Sheltering Arms, and trustee of 
the Suntla}- Morning Breakfast Association. In atldi- 
tiiin to the charitable work [lerfornieil b}" him in his 
close connection with these various bene\-olent asso- 
ciations, he has a taste for art, and officiates as treas- 
urer of the Phikulelphia Sketch Club, an association 
whose menibeiship embi'aces many of the active artists 
of this cit\-. 

Politicall)', Mr. McCrear\- has liehl himself aloof from 
close party affiliation. He is Republican in his political 
sentiments, but maintains the ])osition of an Independent, 
with freedom to \ote for and support such candidates 
and interests as his jutlgnient of what is for the best good 
of the cit\' and eouiitr\' ma\' appro\'e. He has persist- 
entl\' refused several places of honor and emolument, 
and only reluctantl_\- consented to become a candidate 
for the position which he now fills, that of city treasurer. 
After the now historical defalcation of John Bardsley in 
this office in 1891, and his enforced resignatinn, William 
Redwood Wright was appointed by Go\ernor Pattison 
to fill the unexpired term. At the succeeding election 
of 1S92, Mr. Wright became the candidate of the Demo- 
cratic part}-, but was defeated by a large majority for the 
Republican c.mditlate, Mr. McCrear}-, who still accept- 
ably occupies this important office. 



MAKERS OF P/l/LADELFHlA. 



231 



ALLHN B. ROKKH. 

Ai.rj'.N Hi:akm:v Rorkf., a Iculin;^- contractur and 
builder of l'hiladcl[)hia, of late \-cai-s prominent in [lolitics, 
was born in that city, Marcli 21, I S46. He attended the 
jjublic sclidols, and .ifteiwards enteretl the eniplc>\aiient 
of his fatiier and tiinrouL;hl\- learned the trade of car- 
penter and builder. He soon showed his aptitude for the 
business he had chosen, and when but tw'ent\'-tun years 
of aL;e was placed in ehai'L;e ot iuipoit.uit work'. It was 
under his supei\ision thatweie constiaicted the Pardee 
Scientific School, ,it l^astoii ; the builduiL;^ of the (iiraixl 
h.state, occupicti tor ^exei.d }'eais b\' the ISo.ud of 
l^rokers, at the rear of the Ciirard Bank on Third Street; 
and Horticultural Hall, erected in Fairniount I'.u-k for 
the Centennial l'".xhibition In iSj() he decided to enLjaLje 
in business on his own account, and almost immediateh' 
took a front jjlacc in tlie ranks of the builders of tlie 
cit\-. .AmouLj the moi'e prominent of the man}' structures 
he has erected since enterint; l:)usiness for himself ma\' 
be mentioned the Betz Building;", at Broad Street and 
South Penn .S(|uare; the immense suyar-refining" plant of 
Claus S[)reckels, at Reed Street wharf; the h.uulsonie 
residence of Tliomas Dolan, Esip, 1S09 Walnut .Street; 
the entire block of store buildings, bounded b\' Mai'ket, 
P^le\-enth, Twelfth, and Gii.ird Streets, fir the (uiartl 
Estate ; the e.\tensi\e coixlage works of Pldwin H. Fitler 
& Co., at Bridesburg; the Park Theatre, at I5road Street 
and h'airniount A\enue ; the Retort :md Purityinij-Houses 
of the Twent)--fifth Ward Gas Works; the m,issi\e- 
lookiny And artisticall}' desit;ned edifice of the Western 
Saving Fund Societ}-, at Tenth and W.ilnut .Streets; the 
Trinity M. \i. Clun-ch, at P'ifteeilth and Abumt \'ernon 
Streets ; the unique and attractive Manufacturers' Club 
House, on Walnut Street west of Broad ; the three im- 
mense white marble structuies in Gir.iiil College gi'ounds, 
known as buildings No. 8, No. 9, and No. 10; John T. 
Baile}''s residence on Master Street, near P^ifteeiith ; 
Leedom's Mills, at Bristol, Pa.; the carjiet mills of 
McCallum, Crease & Sloan, at Wayne Junction ; the 
warehouse of O. S. Janney & Co., on Letitia .Street; the 
depot and stables of the Second and Third Street Pas- 
.senger Railway Company; Heiisel, Collad.iy iS: Co.'s 
large building on Se\entli .Street below Arch; the office 
building of the Traction Com|)an_\-, at 423 Walnut Street; 
Thomas Dolan & Co.'s Mills ; the .State I-'encibles 
Armor)-; the buildings of the Inrush ]'"dectric Light 
Company: John T. l^aile)- ..K: Co.'s cortlage work's; 
Dornan Bros. & Co.'s Monitor Mills; Merch.mt & Co.'s 
store and warehouse, 517 Arch Street; Lennox Mills, 
at Bridesburg; Justice, l^ateman & Co.'s warehouse on 



/ 



%S*""'- 



r^^^^S^ 



Gothic Street ; The Fidelity Storage Warehouse, on 
Market Street abine P'ighteenth ; Marks Brothers' store, 
at Eiglith and Arch .Streets; the large f,ictoi'\' building 
of the Hope Manufacturing Compan\-, at Woodbury, 
N. J. ; office building of the Poth Brewing Co. ; the old 
and the new Tiiius Annexes, on .Sanson) .Sti'eet west of 
pjghth, foi' the Tillies PubliNhing Co.; stables on Car- 
penter .Stiect .iboxe P^uirth, for I'/ir Item; the College 
of Pharmacy, on Tenth .Street [jelow Race; the immense 
plant for the Philadcliihia Warehmising and Cold Storage 
Co., at Delaware Avenue, Nol)le, and Ik-acli .Streets; 
store building for lames .S. Wilson & .Son, at 44 North 
.Se\'enth Street; a se\en-story factorv at Cherry and 
Carman Streets, for ]. R. Jones; a six-stor}' office 
building for The Wm. .S. Cramp & Sons' Ship and 
pjigine Building Co.; aiul the ornamental manufactur- 
ing building, at T\\elfth and 'Phonipsoii .Streets, for 
Louis .Schutte. 

At this time Mi'. Rorke is making rapid progress in 
the erection of the largest building in Philatlelphia, which 
is to be known as the Philadelphia Bourse, co\'ering the 
large plot of groimd bounded b\' P'ourth Street, Ranstead 
Place, Fifth Street, and Merchant Street. 

Mr. Rorke is connected with x.irious social and political 
organizations. He is a member of the L'nion League, 
Clover Club. ALuuificlurers' Club, Columbia Club, 
Builders' Exchange, the Hibernian .Societ}-, and the 
Union Republican Club ; and is a director in the Chestnut 
Street National Bank and the Chestnut .Street Tiust and 
Saving P^und Co. He is also a iirominent member of 
the Masonic fraternit)'. 



232 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




WILLIAM F. HARRLFY. 

W'iKMAM I". IL\KK^l^ was b(irn in W'iliiiinytDn, Dela- 
ware, on October 19, 1850, and receix'ed his preliininar\' 
education in the public schools of Wilmington, and at 
Clarkson Taxlor's Acadeniy and St. i\L'iry's College in 
the same place. He afteruaicls entered La Salle College. 
Philadelphia, from which he graduated as Master of Arts 
in June, iSji. He subseciueiltl}' studied law with Lewis 
C. Cassidy and Pierce Archer, and was admitted to the 
Philadelphia bar on December 27, 1873. For si.x ye<irs 
he remained with his preceptors as their assistant, and nii 
Januaiv I, l.SSo, firmed a law paitnei'ship with Hnii. 
James (ia)' Gordon, which was dissuKeil on January I, 
1884. Since his admittance to the bar, he has continued 
in active jjractice of the law in the couits of Philadelphia. 

Mr. LIarrit_\-'s business career began in 1882, he being 
in that year matle chairman of the Democratic City 
Executive Committee of PhiKulelphia, when Hon. James 
A. Beaver, the Republican candidate for goxernur, had a 
majority in that cit_\' of but three thousand fiur hundred 
and si.xty-four o\er Go\-ernor Pattison. In 18S4 he 
served as delegate-at-large fmm Pennsyh-ania to the 
Chicago con\ention which iioniin.ited Gr(.i\er Clexeland 
for President, antl on December 1 of the following \-ear 
was appointed Postmaster at Philadelphia, in which office 
he served a full term of four }-ears. In January, 1890, 
he was elected President of the Kcjuitable Trust Com- 
pan_\-, of Philadel[)hia, and is still its president. He of- 
ficiated as permanent chairman of the DeUK.icnitic State 
Convention held at Scranton in 1890, which nominated 
Robert 1'^. Pattison fir a second term ; was mianimously 
elected chairman of the Democratic State Central Com- 
mittee on July 2, 1 8yo, but declined to accept because of 
business engagements, antl resigned the ])osition on Jul)- 
16, 1890; and was nominated by Governor Pattison, and 



was unanimousl)- confii'med b_\- the Senate, as Secretary 
of State on January 20, 1891. Prior to accepting his 
present position, he had never held any public office ex- 
cept that of Postmastei' at Philadelphia. 

C)n January 20, 1892, I\Ir. Harrity was nnanimoush- 
elected b_\- the Democratic State Central Committee of 
PennsyK ania to re[)resent that .State in the Democratic 
Natiiiu.d Committee, as the siiccessoi' ol the late William 
L. Scott; aiul on April 13, l8(j2, he was unanimously 
elected l)\' the Deniociatic State CnUNention fir the full 
term as the Pennsylvania memlx-i' iif the Democratic 
National Committee, which election was unanimously 
ratified by the Pennsyh-ania delegation to the Democratic 
Natiiiiial Convention held at Chicago on June 21, 1892. 

( )n pilv 21, i8ij2, he w<is unanimously elected as chair- 
man of the Democratic National Committee at a meeting 
held in the citv of New V(.irk on that day. As Demo- 
cratic National I'hairman, Mr. llarrity conducted the 
national cam|)aign of 1892, which resulted in the election 
of Grover Cleveland and A. P~. Stevenson as President 
antl \'ice-Presi(.lent of the L^nited States. 

Because of his efficient services to the Democratic 
party and his devotion to President Cleveland during his 
candidac}- for the nomination and election as President 
in 1892, it is generall)- understood that Mr. Harrity would 
Iiave been appointeel as a member of President Cleve- 
land's Cabinet hadi he not promptl}- indicated his inability 
and disinclination to accept the position, he preferring to 
continue in the office of Secretary of State of Penn.syl- 
vania until the end (if his term (January 20, i8<)5). 

Ml'. Harrity's personal appearance ccimmands attention 
and respect. His manner is cjin'et and full of ease and 
confidence. His nature is frank and open, but he pos- 
sesses sufficient caution and shrewdness to avoitl mistakes 
and to protect himself from imposition. He has in a 
marked degree that rare and invaluable aid to successful 
leadership, — the ([ualitv of attracting and holding the con- 
fidence and aflection of tliose about him, and upon whose 
assistance a successful manager or leader must rely. 

Mr. llarrity has been successful in all his undertakings 
in the fields of law, finance, and politics. He is of indus- 
trious habits, and is an indefatigable worker. He averages 
not less than from twelve to fourteen liours each day at 
hard work, giving most of his time and attention to the 
affiirs of the Plciuitable Trust Comixmy of Philadelphia, 
of which he is president. He does not neglect his law- 
practice, although that is looked after by his law jxirtner 
and a corps of assistants. 

That Mr. Harrit)- should attract a large circle of friends 
is inevitable. His career in bLisincss and in official and 
political life has been so creditable that, without any ad- 
ventitious aids, Mr. Harrity has attained an enviable posi- 
tion in the country as well as in the community in which 
he resides. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



233 



RICHARD WISTAR. 

Richard \\'i>rAK, burn in rhikuJclijliici, July -O, 1756, 
was a grandson of Caspar W'istar, who came to this city 
from Hilsbach, Germany, ill i/ij.ainl cstabHshed a ylass 
factory, probabl}' tlic first in North ,\nierica, in New 
Jersey, about thirt_\- miles fiom I'hilacielphia. I lis maternal 
grandfatlier, l^arthnhimew W}'att, came to this country 
from I'jigland shortly after William I'enn's arrival. 

Mr. Wa'star's turn of mind was in fa\or of mercantile 
business, which he cherished througlKait his life with 
manly diligence and success. I lis enterprises led him to 
the building, in i 79O, of a large four-storied stoie at tlie 
lliirth-west corner of Third and Market Streets, where for 
many )-ears thereafter he was extensivel)' engaged in the 
wholesale and retail iron and hardware business. lie in- 
vested also considerably in real estate, purchasing lands 
and houses in the city and its suburbs, aiul in the interior 
of the State. At the time of building his store at Third 
and Market Streets, the site of the future great city was 
so little occupied that, as he often said in later years, he 
could easily see the workmen engaged on the building 
from his country seat, which occupied the tract between 
what is now Fifteenth, Broad, Brand_\-\\ ine, and Wallace 
Streets. 

Mr. Wistar was an admirer of Benjamin Franklin's 
homely ami wise business precepts, and adopted them 
practically in tlie coiuhict of his business. He was 
strongly opposed to tlie system of mutual endorsement, 
then much in vogue, and of the giving of accommoda- 
tion promissory notes. In business he ilisphux-d sound 
common sense, strict integrity, good judgment, and cor- 
rect and punctual habits, t|ualities to which he owed much 
of his success. lie was a retiring and studious man, 
fond of reading ami domestic life, his leisure liours being 
largely spent in the retirement of his hcime, at the locality 
just named. He was married in 1782 to Sarah Morris, 
daughter of Captain Samuel Morris, a distinguished citi- 
zen and an active and able officer during the Revolution. 
During the Revolutionary War Mr. Wistar belonged to 
the Societ)' of Friends, but lo\'e and patriotism caused 




him to be disowned. He claimed and exercisetl the 
right to take arms for the defence of his property at 
sea, and committed the further offence of marr\'ing out 
of meeting, two tlerelictions which the principles and rules 
of conduct of the Society of Friends woukl not permit 
them to condone. 

Mr. Wistar took active part in beiiexoleiit affairs, being 
an early friend and suj^jxirter of the PennsyKania Hospi- 
tal and an energetic Prison Inspector. He was also 
w-armly interested in the progress of the Philadelphia 
Library Company. He was a P'reemason, and in high 
esteem with the fraternit)-, his certificate of membership 
being dated August 27, 1779. The "Silk Stocking" 
lodge of Philadelphia was created lor him, and he became 
its Master, or presiding ofticer. Where\er he travelled, 
whether b)' land or sea, he carried his certificate of 
membership with him. It was [printed on parchment, 
and kept securely tied in a silken bag, wiiich he clierished 
as one of his most valuable possessions. 

He died in Philadelphia, June 6, 1821, in the sixty- 
fifth year of his age. 



30 



234 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




SAMUEL ARCHER. 

Samuel Akchek was a nati\e of Xcw Jltsc}-, being 
born in or near Columbus, Burlington Count)-, in the year 
1 77 1. After receiving his education and passing tlirough 
the early years of his business life in that localit)-, he 
came to Philadelphia about iSoo. and entered there into 
the retail dry-goods business, which he prosecuted with 
such energy and enterprise that he became in time one 
of the largest importers antl shipping merchants of that 
city, and a pioneer in the development of its great trade. 
He took into partnership with him Robert L. Pittfield, 
the firm being known as Samuel Archer & Company, and 
afterwards as Archer & Bispham, Staccy B. J-iispham 
entering it on the retirement of Mr. Pittfield. The busi- 
ness of the house grew to be an immense one for that 
early date in the histor\- of Philadelijhia mercantile in- 
terests, it reaching in a single \-ear an amount of more 
than 52,000,000. 

At that time the Calcutta and China trade of the L'nited 
States was mainly conducted through Philadelphia ; the 
firm of Archer & Company became engaged in it, exten- 
sively importing Chinese goods, and dealing very largely 
in the muslins and other fabrics of the East Indies, none 
of which class of goods were then manufactured in the 
United States. This business proved an exceedingly 



profitable one, the house clearing on one year's trade 
SI 20,000, and in audther \-ear tlie still larger sum of 
$180,000. 

In the autumn of 1810 Mr. Archer \'isited P^ngland for 
the purpose of purchasing British and P^uropcan goods, 
his credit in London and other Knglish and Pau'opean 
towns being unlimited. The \\'ar of 181 2, ho\\ever, put 
a stop to his importing business, the large trade w hich he 
then enjoyed in the importation of British and Asiatic 
goods being suspended. After the War of 18 12, he was 
the first merchant to ship American cotton goods to China, 
being the pioneer in this afterwards profitable trade. 

For nearly half a century Mr. Archer hekl a prominent 
place among the merchants of Philadelphia. He pos- 
sessed sterling good sense and much business enterprise, 
but was too honest for the duplicitj' of modern commer- 
cial life, and lost heavily through placing too much confi- 
dence in others. Trouble came to him in later j-ears 
through over-confidence and generosity, though, fortu- 
nately for him, he seemed to possess the power of making 
fortunes as easily as losing them. 

Though basking in the sunshine of prosperit\-, his 
nati\-e simplicity of character alwaj's declared itself, and 
he ne\-er indulged in ostentation or display. Charit)-, 
benevolence, and uprightness were sterling elements of 
his character, and he was in all respects an honor to his 
profession and to the human race. In connection with 
Robert Ralston, he gave to that noble charity, the 
Orphans' Asylum, the lot of ground at Eighteenth and 
Cheriy Streets on which its building was erected, while 
his private charitable gifts were many and useful, 

A story is told of him that is worth repeating. While 
on his way home in 181 1, after his visit to Plngland, the 
ship " Hercules," on which he sailed, was boarded by a 
party from the British frigate " La Guerriere." The 
sailing-master, noticing his plain attire, took hold of the 
collar of his coat and asked him if he was not a Phila- 
delphia Quaker. " Xo, I am not," he replied. " I incline 
towards that persuasion of religion, and gi\-e it the prefer- 
ence; but if thee lays thy hand on me again, I will throw 
off the Quaker and perhaps throw thee overboard." 

The officer withdrew, quite satisfied that he had not 
caught a Quaker on that occasion. Mr. Arclier died in 
Piiiladelphia in the )-ear 1839. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



?35 



JOSEPH HARTSHORNE, M.D. 

Dk. Ji)>ei'I[ IIartshiirnk \v;is born at Strauhcrr)- Hill, 
Fairfax Count)-, \'iii;inia, December af'i, ij/y, being 
descended on both siilcs from families of Friends, the 
first of whom reachei.1 Amei'ica in 16%. ( )ne of the 
family was a frieinl and ad\iser of \\'illiam IVim. Wil- 
liam Hartshorne, father of the subject of our sketch, 
mo\-cd to PhiLideljihia about 1777, but afterwards became 
a merchant of Alexandri.i, X'irginia, antl a neighl)iir and 
friend of General Washington. His son Joseph had a 
se\-erc illness at fi\e \^ears of age which made him per- 
manentU' lame. He was ei^lucated at the Alexandria 
Academy, where he devested himself to intellectual pur- 
suits, and became proficient in French and Latin. He 
afterwards spent iwo nv three ye. us in his father's mer- 
cantile house, but his lameness seeming to unfit him for 
a business career, he decided to study medicine, and 
became a student under Dr. Kraik, at that time family 
ph)'sician to General Washington. 

After two j-cars' stud\' he applied and was apjiointed 
to fill a vacancy in the Penns}-l\-ania Hospital, at Phila- 
delphia, as resident phj'sician and apothecar\', and while 
thus engaged attended medical lectures at the University 
of PennsyK-ania, where he graduated in the spring of 
1805. After his graduation he continued in the hospital 
as senior resident physician, and in his last \-ear's term 
had charge of the out-door practice, during which period 
not less than seventeen hundred patients passed under 
his hantls. He had special charge of the 1 lospital Iibrar\', 
and prepared its first catalogue ; and amid his active 
duties found time to edit and publish the first American 
edition of " Bayer's Treatise on Diseases of the Bones," 
with notes and additional plates. He also de\'ised an 
improvement on Ba\'er's splint for fractured thigh, which 
is still in use. 

He afterwards, as surgeon and supercargo of an P^ast 
Indiaman, made two voyages to Bata\ia, occup\-ing two 
years. On his return he settled at prixate practice in 
Philadelphia, but meeting small success, he became part 
proprietor of an apothecary store. This, however, 
proved a hindrance to his professional duties, and he 
retired from it after two or three j'ears, his practice 
gradually growing large, principally among the poor, 
the Irish especiall\- ha\ing an e.xalted idea of his skill. 
The rejHitation he gained with this class in time brought 
him an extensive practice of more profitable character. 

In 1 81 5 Dr. Hartshorne was elected a surgeon of Penn- 
.sylvania Hospital, a position which brouglit him more 
prominentK' into notice as a skilful siu'geon, in which 
branch of [practice his reputation grew rapiill)'. He was 




engaged with particular activity during the epidemic of 
\-ellow fever in Philadelphia in 1820. and in the various 
epidemics wliich prevailed at internals during the suc- 
ceeding ten \ears. P)uring this period a vast number of 
patients came under his care, he treating two hundred 
and eight)- cases of fe\er in a single autumn. He was 
also constantly in demand as a consulting physician and 
surgeon. He resigned from the hospital in 1821 in con- 
sequence of the extent of his pri\ate practice, and for 
over twent)-fi\'e )'cars afterwards continued a most la- 
borious and indefatigable worker, his health being excel- 
lent during this period. He was attacked by illness in 
184S, and helped to shorten his life b)- his exertions 
iluring the cholera ei)idemic of 1849, his illness returning 
in the autumn of that )-ear. In the summer of 1850 he 
was, at his own request, taken to Brandywine Springs, 
where he died on August 20 of that year. 

Dr. Hartshorne's reputation as a skilled physician and 
surgeon and a de\-oted worker in his chosen profession 
stands high among the records of the man)- able medical 
men of Philadelphia. In 1805 he was elected a member 
of the Philadelphia Medical Society, and was its treasurer 
for several )-ears. In 18 I 5 he became a member of the 
American Philosophical Society and of the College of 
Ph)-sicians in 1824. He devised the preparation of 
opium in \inegar and alcohol known as " Hartshorne's 
Acetated Tincture of OjMum," and was largely instru- 
mental in calling the attentit)n of physicians to the use 
of nux vomica in cases of paralysis. He was married 
in 1S13 to Anna, daughter of Lsaac 15onsall, of Phila- 
delphia. 



^:.<'^ 



JfAk'EKS OF PHIL.\DELPHIA. 




JOHK HARE POW'EL. 

John Towel Hake was bom in Philadelphia in April. 
17S6, his fothcr, Robcn Hare, being an Englishman of 
good family and education, who came to this country- in 
177:;, and became a member of the first Constitutional 
Convention of Pennsylv,inia, and afterwards Speaker of 
the Pennsyl\-ania State Senate. The son was gi\-en a 
classical education, and afterwards placed in the counting- 
house of Willings S: Francis, who were his relatives. 
Here he quickly acquired a practical knowledge of mer- 
cantile attairs, ;uid before reaching the age of rvvail\-one 
made a commercial voyage to Calcutta, receiving, on his 
return, twent}- thous,and dollars as his share of the profits. 
During the monotony of die sea vo\-age he occupied 
himself in reading .and literaiy labors, abridging Robert- 
son s ■' History- of Charles V." in a t]ious.nid manuscript 
pages, as a literan,- exercise and for tlie impro\-ement of 
his style of comjxvsition. 

On readiing his maiorit\-. he consented, at the request 
of his aunt, Mrs, Elizabeth Towel, who had adopted him, 
to change his name to John Hare Powel, an act of the 
L^slature being procured to that effect. Shortly after- 
w^ards he went to Europe on a tour for pleasure and im- 
pro\-ement, and while there was made Secretan- of the 
United States Legation in London, under Hon. William 
rSnckney, Minister to England. This position ga\-e him 
abundiuit opportunities for tlie stud\- of the go\-emment, 
resources, and policy of Great Britain, the result being a 
strong distrust of the oppressive spirit of the English 
government, which, he said, w.^s marked by the same 



virtues and \nces as characterized ancient Rome. His 
residence in England continued for tliree years, during 
which he made occasional \isits to France, where Napo- 
leon was then in the height of his power and grandeur. 
The court o\ France was magnificent to the eye. but the 
despotism of the gox^eniment was deeply distasteful to 
Mr. Powel, in whom republican sentiments were strongly 
developer! . 

He returned home in December, iSi i, haxnng resolved 
to enter the arm\- of tlie United States ; but, finding no 
\"acancy suit.able to his ambition, he joined tlie volunteer 
force, in which he ser\ed at Camp Dupont, as brigade- 
major, under his friend General Thomas Cadwalader. 
Here lie showed himself a strict disciplinarian, and was 
distinguished tor energ}-. \igilance, and decision. He 
continued his eftorts to obtain a command in the regular 
aniiv, but did not succeed until near tlie end of the war, 
when he received a commission as inspector-general, with 
the rank of colonel in tlie amiy of the United States. 
He served upon the staff of General Scott until tlie peace, 
and was afterwards onl\- dissuaded from entering tlie 
militarv ser\nce of Colombia, as brigadier-general, by his 
mothers tears and tlie entreaties of his family. 

Having thus reluctantly given up his aspirations to a 
militan,- lite, he turned his attention to agriculture, which 
he entered upon with the ardor which had always distin- 
guished him. At this time he married Miss DeVeaux, 
a descendant of an old Huguaiot famil\-. Colonel Powel 
became particularly interested hi the introduction to 
America of tlie improved breeds of English cattle and 
.sheep, especially the Durham Short Honisof the former, 
and tlie South Downis of the latter, and was also ver\- 
active in the development of advanced metliods of agri- 
culture, the pro}>er rotation of crops, and economy in 
labor, in all of which he did his utmost to instruct his 
fellow-agriculturists. He wrote a number of papers on 
these subjects, and was one of the principal founders of 
tlie Penn,svl\~uiia Agricultural Societ>,\ organized about 
1 8^3. Politically he was in favor of fi-ee trade, advocat- 
ing that agriculture should be upheld as the foundation 
of American progress and power, and deprecating manu- 
factures. In 1S27 he became a member of the Senate 
of Pennsylvania, but withdrew- from office after 1S30. 
He had a cultivated taste for the fine arts, and bre>ught 
many beautiful works of art from Europe. He injured 
himself, in his old age, by a fall on the ice, and died June 
14, 1S56, leaving behind him .an enduring reputation as 
a progressive agriculturist. His estate of Powelton is oc- 
cujHed to-day by a prominent part of West Philadelphia. 



MAKERS OF PHILADKLPHIA. 



m 



JAMi:S II. CAMl'Bi;i,l.. 

lIiiN. Jamics lli'.nuKX C.\Mrr.i'.i.r,, (.'x-nu-mht-r of rmi- 
gress, was honi at W'illiamsport, IV'iinsyKania, l'\'b- 
ruan' S, i8jo, his father haxiiiL; been foi- nianv years 
a leaditiL;' member o{ the bar in that eitw mm\ his l;imiu1- 
fathi-r tor thirty \-i'ars ri'etnr of St. hijin's Mpiseopal 
Church at Carhsle. Mr. Campbell stiulied the law at 
Dickinson C'olleL;e. Carlisle, and was adnn'tteil to piae- 
tice in i S4 1 . establishinL; himself at I'otlsville, I'eim- 
syKania. Here he bi-eanu- distinguished for legal learn- 
ing and firensie elcH|iience, ac(|uired a laige practice, 
and lor m.m)- \ears ranked .miong the most eminent 
men at the bai'. 

1 lis political life began in iS.4.1., he becoming a member 
of the Whig N.itional (_'on\ cntion at Jldtimore whicii 
nominated I lenr\' f'l.iv for the piesidencw In thesub- 
seijuent camjjaign Mr. Campbell employed his oratorical 
j)o\ver fervently in Mr. Clav's behalf In 1854 he became 
the camlitlate of the Whigs of his ilistrict fir t'ongi'ess, 
and though the district w.is l.irgely I )emocratic he was 
elected a member of the ThirtN'-fonrth Congress. It w.is 
a period of bitter [laitis.ui struggle o\ er the (pR-stion of 
the adnn'ssion of sla\er\- to the IV-i'ritories, and it was 
of lirst importance to the W higs to secure a .Speaker who 
favoretl freedom in the new .States, and would appoint 
committees favoring that \ie\\. Mr. C'amphcll used .ill 
his influence and oratorical abilitx' in fivnr of N. P. 
Banks, who was t'lected Speaki-r, and who .ippointed 
him, though one of the wmngesl men in the lloust', on 
the important committee of Ways .md Means. In this 
committee he led the op[)osition to all measures looking 
to a retluction of the tariff 

In 1S5S Mr. Campb(,'ll was re-ek-cted to Congi-ess as 
Re|)ublican candidate', <md became one of the leaders in 
opposition to all iIk' measures of the Buchanan adminis- 
tration, which fiNdred the extension of slawry to the 
Territories. In i8()0, his speech in opposition to the 
resolutions known as the Crittenden Compi'omisc e.xcited 
general attention. ,uid g.u'e him a leading positi<in on tin- 
flotir of Congiess. In the s.une yeai' he was appointed 
the PennsyK'ania nuinbei of the " Committee of Thirty- 
three," to consider the impeiilleil state of the Union. 
He was elected to Congress again in i860 by a l.irgcly 
increased majorit)-, and in the stormv times that fiUowed 
became an ardent suppmler of e\er_\- measure calculated 
to strengthen the goxx'rnment. 

Mr. Campbell sei'\ed his countr}- not only in Congress, 
but in the army. On tlu- outbreak of the Rebellion he 
at once went South, passetl s.ifel}' through li.dtimore, 
then in the h.mds of a ruffianl_\- mob, reached Washing- 
ton on Ai)ril lyth, and immediately enlisteil as a private 
in the battalion of Major Cassias M. Clay, organized for 
the protection of Washington. On the arrival of troops 
from the North, the battalion, being no longer needed, 




was disbande'd, and on Ma\' 1st Mr. Campbell was elected 
inajoi- of the Tweiitx -fifth Regiment, l'emisyl\-,mia V'ol- 
unleers, with which he rem. lined on active ilutv until the 
i-xpiiMtion of its ihnc months' term of service. Resum- 
ing his seat in the I louse, he was made ch,nrm;in of the 
Select Committee i>n the I'.uific Railro.id, and reported 
,1 bill in fivoi ol" the middle route (the war rendi'iing a 
Southern route impiacticable). Ilie bill, though viewed 
as premature under the circumstaiu es, w as carried tlirough 
mainlv bv his tact, abilily, and popul.iritv. and became 
the b.isis ol' the subseiiuent building of the idad. In 
1 86^, liming the invasion of reniisyK ani.i. he, in con- 
nection with Cieiieral Nagle, r.iised a ri-giniellt ol (.■leven 
luuulred nu'ii, and pi'oceeded to the scene ol coiillict as 
lieutenanl-colonel in coinm.md. 

In August, 18(1:;, President Lincoln offeicd him the 
appointment of ludge of the Court for the .Suppiession 
of the African .Slave Trade, to reside at Capetown, ;\frica. 
This he declined, and in 1864 was appointed Cniteil .States 
Minister to .Swtileii ,md Norway. Cnder this appoint- 
ment he resided three v'ears at Stockholm, acquired the 
language, an<l much knowledge concerning the laws, 
customs, and commerce of the countries, and travelK'd 
n]i the coast of Norvvav to I lamnieifest, where he saw- 
that striking spectacle, the midnight sun. 

In 1867 he was offered the Mission to Colombia, .Soiitli 
America, but declined, and in the autumn of that vear 
took u]) his residence in Philaiielphia, in which citv he 
has since resided, engaged in the practice of his profes- 
sion. In 184:; he was married to Miss Julia Lewis, a 
ilaughter of Chief-Justice Llllis Lewis, and a lady of rare 
intellectual qualities. Mr. Campbell has always been a 
strong advocate of the protection of American iiidiistries, 
and by hi.s brilliant power of oratoi'v has rendered much 
service to his part}-. 



2t!8 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




HENRY A. DREER. 

He:nrv Ai.GU?Tr5 Dreer, the founder of one of the 
leading seed-houses of Philadelphia, v.a? been ;n this 
cit}- on August 27, 1 8 1 8. and was ec _ cit}- 

schools. Elarly in life he developed a passion for horti- 
cultural pursuits, and in 1S3S, when onh" t^venty years 
of age, he founded the firm of Hirst & Dreer. for the 
culti\-ation and sale of seeds and plants. The firm had 
its office at 97 Chestnut Street and its nursery" grounds 
at Woodlands, on what was then known as the Darby 
Road, West Philadelphia. After a }-ear Mr. Hirst with- 
drew, and Mr. Dreer remained alone to develop the 
business, then small, but being pushed with all ^Nlr. 
Dreer's energj- and enterprise. In 1855 a remo^-al was 
made to No. 1 17 Chestnut Street, and in 1863. the needs 
of the business demanding more space, the handsome 
•warehouse offices at Xo. 714 Chestnut Street were occu- 
pied. Here the firm has since remained, its business 
meanwhile growing, until it has become ver}- exten-sive, 
its connections spreading far and wide throughout the 
land. 

The nurseries or seed-farms of the firm have, during the 
period named, made a remarkable progress. Beginning 
in a small way at W'oodlands in 1 838, a remo\'al to more 
spacious localities at Mantua and on Belmont Avenue 
was made in 1 849 ; and at a later date, it becoming neces- 
sarj- to seek a more rural and extensible localitj', the 



present grounds at Riverton, New Jerse}-, were chosen. 
Here the demands of the business have increased, until 
: - y over one hundred acres are devoted to seed 
growing and testing and the systematic cultivation of 
plants of ever\- \ariet\". Fiftj' large greenhouses, heated 
by boilers of three hundred horse-power, are necessarj- 
for the culti\-ation of plants demanded by the present 
great business. Elach of these houses is devoted to the 
cultivation of a special class of plants, and the stock is 
considered the best arranged and regulated of its kind in 
this country-. The grounds are at all times open to the 
inspection of the public, and they serve as a grand object- 
lesson for- all students of seed, plant, and bulb culture. 

The Riverton testing-grounds ser\"e the same purpose 
to the seed-grower as a laboratorj- does to the chemist. 
Vast quantities of selected seed stocks are here proven, 
and are sent far and wide to farmers located in situations 
favorable to the highest development of each particular 
spedes. In due time they are returned " an hundredfold" 
in the wide ^^rietv' of seeds of vegetables, flowers, and 
bulbs which the great concern supplies to the public. 

Henr\- A. Dreer, after developing the business in the 
manner described, died in December, 1873, leaving the 
establishment in the hands of his son, \\'illiam F. Dreer, 
under whose able management it has had a steady and 
great growth, until now it merits the encomiums we have 
given it In 1892 the business was incorporated and the 
stock distributed among the emploj-ees who had been 
identified with the house for a greater or less number 
of years, there being no change made in the business 
management. 

The house has educated the pubb'c in the growth of 
plants and vegetables bj- issuing a series of annual cata- 
logues, which are at once artistic and instructive. These, 
which began in 1 840, have grown \-early larger and fuller, 
until they have become highly valuable books of refer- 
ence in the horticultural art and trade. The firm has 
introduced and de\-eloped numerous new and valuable 
seedlings, among which may be named the Casaba melon, 
the Latakia tobacco, the Abj'ssinian banana, and the orna- 
mental Ampelopsis Veitchii, introduced from Japan in 
1870. and now the favorite climbing plant in this countrj'. 
In addition might be named many new \egetables, in- 
cluding the Hanson lettuce, Bastian's turnip, and Dreer's 
impro%'ed lima bean and Eclipse asparagus, as examples 
of numerous valuable vegetable-garden plants. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



-59 



WILLIAM SELLERS. 

William Seller^?, a prominent iron manufacturer of 
Philadelphia, was bom, September 19. 1S24, on the old 
homestead estate in Delaware Count}-. Pennsylvania, 
which had been taken up by Samuel Sellers in 16S2, 
when he came to America from Bristol. England, as 
one of William Penn's company of Quaker emigrants. 
The marriage of Samuel Sellers is the first one recorded 
in the minutes of the Friends' Meeting of Darby. Part 
of the estate is still held under the original patent, by 
William Sellers and his brother John. His mother was 
Elizabeth Poole, of Wilmington. Delaware. The family 
tradition is that her great-grandfather was sent from 
England by the Ro\-aI Geographical Societ\\ in the last 
century, to obser\"e in this countn,- a transit of Venus, 
and that he found the attractions of the New World 
such that he decided to remain. It is interesting to learn 
that the paternal great-grandfather of William Sellers 
was, in his turn, appointed by the American Philosoph- 
ical Society to observe a transit of Venus, perhaps the 
same, as there were only two transits in the centur>\ 
This gentleman was one of the original members of the 
Philosophical Societ}-, and membership has been con- 
tinued in the family unto the present generation, William 
Sellers being a member. 

Mr. Sellers was educated in private schools, and at the 
age of fourteen entered tlie machine-shop of his uncle. 
J. AL Poole, near Wilmington. Delaware, where he ser\ed 
an apprenticeship imtil twentv-one years of age. He 
tlien assumed charge of the shops of Bancroft, Nightin- 
gale &: Co., at Providence, Rhode Island, and two \-ears 
afterwards came to Philadelphia, where he started in busi- 
ness for himself at Thirtieth and Chestnut Streets. A 
}ear later (in 1848) he entered into partnership with Mr. 
Bancroft, his former employer in the Pro\idence estab- 
lishment, and removed to a shop on Beach Street. Ken- 
sington, the title of the new firm being Bancroft &: Sellers. 
In 1855 •^f''. Bancroft died. John Sellers had predously 
been admitted to the firm, which now took its present 
title of William Sellers & Co. Several other persons 
have since formed members of the firm. 

The business of the establishment continued to grow, 
until in time it became one of the largest in its line, that 
of the manufacture of machine tools, in the L"nited States. 
It was exentually removed to its present location at 
Pennsyl\-ania Avenue. Si.xteenth and Buttonwood Streets. 
where it occupies extensive buildings, and possesses a 
plant of unsurpassed excellence in its line of production. 

In 1873, Mr. Sellers became President of the Midvale 
Steel Compan\-. at Nicetown, Philadelphia, a large and 
important establishment, which he afterwards reorganized. 
At an earlier date (in 1 868) he had established the Edge 1 



i^ * '"v ^fe% 



^ . 




Mot^r Iron Company, for the manufacture of iron and 
steel building material. He is still the president of this 
concern, which supplied all the iron material for the 
buildings of the Centennial Exposition, and possesses 
one of the largest plants in the country- for the building 
of iron bridges and other structures in iron and steel. 
In 1864 he became president of the Franklin Institute. 
whose finances were then in a critical condition. Mr. 
Sellers "s able management brought it quickh- into a state 
of greater prosperity, which it has since maintained- He 
is still closely connected with this institution, and is a 
member of the Finance Committee of the Academy of 
Natural Sciences. During his presidency of the Franklin 
Institute he proposed the first formula ever offered for a 
standard sj-stem of screw-threads and nuts. His system 
was adopted, and is now the standard in the L'nited States. 
Politically a Republican, he became a member of the 
L^nion Club, founded early in the Ci\"il War. which after- 
wards became the L'nion League. For several years he 
served as vice-president of the latter bod}-. On the 
formation of the Park Commission he became one of its 
first members, and later became active in furthering the 
Centennial Exposition, being for some time \nce-presi- 
dent of its Board of Finance. For several years he was 
a director of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad 
Company, and for many years a director of the Phila- 
delphia, Wilmington, and Biiltimore R;iilroad Company-. 
In 1 868 he was elected one of the trustees of the L"ni- 
versity of PennsyKania, which position he still retains. 
The productions of the Sellers Works have received 
high honors and many medals trom the v-arious World's 
Fairs, and the establishment stands to-day in the fix^nt 
rank of the industrial interests of Philadelphia. 



240 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JOHN B. STETSON. 

Jdiix Bali.eson Stetson", hat manufacturer of Phila- 
delphia, was born in Orange, New Jersey, May 5, 1830. 
His father was a hatter, and he learned that trade in liis 
father's workshop, continuing to follow it in that section 
of the countr\- until 1865, when he came to Philadelphia, 
with the hope of finding there better opjwrtunities for 
business progress. Up to that time he had collected no 
capital, antl began business in this cit)' in Januar\', 1865, 
with onh' industry and energy to sustain him. His first 
shop was in a small room at Se\'enth and Callowhill 
Streets, where he made and delivered most of his own 
work. He began with repairing, but, having gained a 
reputation for honest and tastefid work, was soon able to 
manufacture hats, taking care that nothing not of sterling 
quality should leave bis shop. 

In 1866 Mr. Stetson moved to P\")urth Street above 
Chestnut Street, and there progressed so well that his 
goods were soon in wide demand, and he was obliged 
year after year to increase the dimensions of his estab- 
lishment. In 1869 he began to employ travelling sales- 
men, his business previously ha\ing been local only. His 
office and salesrooms were removed in 1872 to a new 
localit\% suitable to accommodate his now large business. 
This was the block bounded by Montgomer\- A\-enue, 
Fourth and Cadwalader Streets ; a large tract which has 
since, in successive stages, been covered by buildings 
five and si.x stories high, which form what is perhaps the 
largest and best equipped hat factory in the world. The 
number of operators averages about eight hundred and 



fifty, of whom about one hundred and fifty are women. 
The productive capacity of the establishment is about one 
hundred and fifty dozen of fur and felt hats daily, the value 
of the annual output being nearly two millions of dollars. 

Mr. Stetson is a man of benevolent instincts, and is 
earnestl)- interested in the welfare of his operators. In 
his factor)- nine hours are a da_\''s work, and the week ends 
at Saturday" noun. With the workshops he has associ- 
ated a number of institutions, unique and highly useful 
in character, and instigated by his warm sjiirit of human 
good-w ill. These are located in rooms at one end of the 
large pile of factory buildings, and include religious, social, 
and benevolent institutions for the good of the workmen. 
Among them is a large Sunda_\--school, started for his 
emplciyees, but open to man_\- people of the neighbor- 
hood, its place of meeting being a handsome hall which 
is capable of seating two thousand persons. Beneath this 
is a spacious librar\- and reading-room, supplied with 
three thousand choice volumes and the leading news- 
papers and periodicals. There is also a parlor for e\'en- 
ing social meetings, while e\'er)- week-da\-, at noon, 
prayer-meetings are held here. There is a study for 
those in charge of the Sunda\--school, and an armory for 
the guns and equipments of a military company organ- 
ized from among the N'ounger haiuls. 

An organization was formed in 1885, known as the 
John B. Stetson Union, on the same basis as the Young 
Men's Christi.m Association. In addition there is a char- 
itable organization known as the Mysterious TweKe, a 
Guard of Honor, composed of boys from tweKe to nine- 
teen \-ears of age, and other societies. Entertainments 
for the operators and their friends are gix'en every Satur- 
day e\ening, at which a full orchestra is engaged, and 
e\ery other e\-ening of the week is in some way profit- 
ably engaged. 

One of the most useful of these institutions is that 
known as the Medical Department, which is under the 
charge of Dr. Carl Seller, antl in which the operators and 
members of the associations are treated at a nominal 
price, or gratuitously when necessar)-. A new building, 
fi\'e stories in lieight, has been erected for this depart- 
ment. There is, in addition, a John B. Stetson Building 
Association, also a beneficial association to which all con- 
tribute, Mr. Stetson most of all. Mr. Stetson's benevo- 
lence, while thus exerted for the good of his workmen, 
reaches to other institutions. He has given fifty thou- 
sand dollars to the Young Men's Christian Association, 
and is connected with or has liberally aided many of the 
charitable institutions of Philadelphia. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



241 



DAVID CONNRR. 

D.Win Conner, commodore in tlic United States navy, 
was born in 1 larrisijiirLj", Penns\-l\ania, in 179 J, liis parents, 
of Irish descent, having come to tliat cit\- after the terrible 
massacre of Wyoming, from wliich the}' narrowl}' escaped. 
After the death of his father in I So^), he came to Fliila- 
delphia, and entered a counting-house in that city, mean- 
while completing his education and obtaining a knowledge 
of French and mathematics. In the pursuit of the mer- 
cantile profession he made a vo\'age to the West Indies, 
and .soon after, having apparent!}- taken a love for the sea, 
ap])licd for an appointment in the na\}'. He was success- 
ful, and on Januar}- 16. 1809, began his first cruise on the 
frigate " President." Short!}' afterwards he returned to the 
mercantile ser\ice, in compain- with Captain Kainbridge 
of the " Presiilent," wlio likeil him and made him first mate 
of his \'essel. His adventures in the merchant service 
were not encouraging, he being captured by a Danish 
privateer on his first voyage, and shipwrecked on Sable 
Islam! during a second. 

In August, iSi I, he returned to the navy, being ordered 
to the sloop-of-war " Hornet," and was acting lieutenant of 
the vessel when war broke out with Great Britain in 181 2. 
His career in this war began with the capture of some 
vessels from a fleet of merchantmen, on one of which he 
was put as [)rize-master. I^efore reaching an American 
port, the prize was recaptured and Conner tal-:en prisoner. 
He was soon exchanged, however, and joined his ship at 
New York. 

In the same year the " Hornet " blockaded a British 
sloop-of-war in the port of St. Salvador, challenging it in 
\'ain to come out. Shortly afterwards she captured the 
British sloop-of-war " Peacock," after a sharj) action, in 
wiiich Conner showed great bravery. The " Peacock " 
sank after the engagement, and Conner, who was engaged 
in taking off her men, narrow 1}' escaped going down with 
her. In 1813, the " Hornet," with other American vessels, 
were blockaded at New London by a superior British fleet. 
The blockade continued for seventeen months, ending in 
a government order to dismantle the American vessels 
with the exception of the " Hornet," which slipj^ed out 
under cover of night, sailed unseen through the British 
fleet, and escaped to New York. Conner was now first 
lieutenant. About two months later the "Hornet" met 
the British sloop-of-war " Penguin," near the island of 
Tristan d'Acunha,and a sharp engagement ensued, which 
ended in the surrender of the " Penguin." During this 
fight. Lieutenant Conner was shot through tlie body, but 
refused to quit the deck until exhausted by loss of blood. 




The woLuid was so severe that his life was despaired of. 
The " Hornet " was chased for three days by a British 
seventy-four on her return, but, b}' extraordinary exer- 
tions, escapet!. Conner, on his return home, recei\'ed 
high honors from Congress and his native State for his 
distinguished services. 

After the war he continued in the nav}', engaged in 
mail}- duties, among them being those of Naval Commis- 
sioner and Chief of the Bureau of Construction. In 
November, 1843, he was appointed to succeed Commo- 
dore .SteWcU't in cumniantl of the lumie squadron, and on 
the outbreak of war with Mexico was given command 
of the fleet operating in the Gulf in conjunction with the 
land forces. During the war the fleet ditl good ser\'ice, 
co-operating in the movement on Matamoras, occupying 
Tampico, and capturing other points. At a later date it 
took the leading part in the landing of General Scott's 
troops at Vera Cruz, Conner managing the landing, which 
was performed without a single mistake or casualty. 
Commodore Conner had now been in service in the Gulf 
of Mexico longer than the usual limit of three years. 
While he was preparing to assist in the attack on Vera 
Cruz, his successor was appointed, and he immediately 
handed over the fleet and returned home, great!}- en- 
feebled by the effects of the climate and his old wound. 

The remainder of his life was passed in Philadelphia, 
in command of tlie na\'}'-}'ard of that cit}', his death 
taking place there on March 20, 1856. Through his long 
career his character was never clouded by a breath of 
detraction, and he died ever}'where honored and esteemed. . 



31 



242 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




ZACHARIAH POULSON. 

Zachakiaii PnuLSON, a jirominent printer and jour- 
nalist of Philailcl[)hia in the closing years of the last and 
the first half of the present century, was born in this city, 
September 5, 1761. His father, of tlie same name, was 
Danish b\- birth, ha\ing left Copenhagen with his fither 
ill 1749 as an emigrant to America. Here he and his 
uncle learned the art of printing, and his namesake and 
son followed in his footsteps after the completion of his 
school-boy life. The _\-ounger Zachariah was apprenticed 
to Joseph Cruikshank — who at that time had a printing 
establishment on Market Street, Philadelphia — to learn 
the trade of type-setting and the other essentials (if the 
art and m\-ster}' of typograph}'. After spending the 
necessary number of years as an ap]:>rentice, and gaining 
a thorough practical acquaintance with the tletails of type- 
setting and printing, he started in business for himself, 
and in time attained much eminence as a printer and 
journalist. 

For many years Mr. Poulson was printer for the Senate 
of Pennsylvania, being successively elected to that posi- 
tion, and printing its proceedings during most of the early- 
years of its existence. He was also appointed to print 
the minutes of the commission appointed to revise the 
Constitution of the State in 1789. As a publisher, his 



most important work was " Proud's History of Pennsyl- 
vania" (1797-98), the earliest efllirt to place upon record 
the histor}' of this commonwealth, .md fir its day and 
date a very creditable work. Another of his publica- 
tions was " Poulson's Town and Country Almanac," an 
annual of considerable \alue, which he issued from 1789 
to 1801 inclusive. On ( )ctober I, I Soo, he began his 
career as a journalist b\' the publication of Poulson's 
American Daily Advertiser, having purchased the good- 
will ,uid fixtuies of Claypole's paper of the same name, 
whicli had the credit of being the first daily [xiper estab- 
lished in the United States, or, for that matter, on the 
American continent. Mr. Poulson continuei^l its publica- 
tion for nearly forty years, its last issue under his control 
being on December 28, 1839. The actual existence of 
the old paper ditl not end then, however. It was incor- 
porated in the Nortli American and United States Gazette, 
published by Morton McMichael, and continues to exist 
as a constituent part of this paper, the old title being re- 
tained in connection « ith the present one. It is on this 
ground that the Nortli American of to-day justh- claims 
to be the oldest daily newspaper in America. 

Mr. Poulscm in his private life was a man of deeply 
benevolent instincts and untiring in good works. Among 
the instituti(.)ns in which he was strongly interested was 
the Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of 
Public Prisons, an association greatly needed in view of 
the barbarous character of prison discipline and accommo- 
dations of a century and less ago, and whose influence 
was potent for good. To it we owe the beginning of the 
present more merciful treatment of prisoners. Mr. Poul- 
son was one of the founders of this association, and at 
his death was its president. The good work it did was 
largely due to his earnest and well-directed efforts. He 
was also for some time one of the managers of the Penn- 
sylvania Hospital, an institution in -which his benevolent 
instincts also had an excellent opportunit)' to display 
themselves. He was particularly interested in the Phila- 
delphia Library, with which he was connected in official 
positions for nearly fifty-nine years. During this period 
he served for twent)'-one }'ears as librarian of this institu- 
tion, while fir six years he filled the office of treasurer, 
and for thirt_\--two \-ears was one of its directors. He 
lived till a good old age, dying July 31, 1844. He was 
buried in the family bur\-ing-ground in Germantown. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



243 



JUDGE ROBERT C. GRIER. 

Robert Ccxu'HR Gkiick, an eminent American jurist, 
was born in Cumberland County, Penns\'lvania, in 1794. 
He was a son of Rev. Isaac Grier, a I'resbx'tericUi minister, 
and was, tliroui;"h an aunt, a relatixe of Alexander II. 
Stephens, Vice-President of the Confetlerate States. He 
obtained his education at iJickinsdii CoHclJC, fmm which 
he graduated in iSij, when eighteen \-ears of aj^e. He 
is said to ha\eacte(_l as jirincipal of this institution before 
lie was twenty-one. The hnv was his clmsen [profession, 
and he was admitted U> the bai" in 1S17, haxiuL; studied 
under a Sunbur)' lawyer. 

In the practice of his profession, his pruLjress was rapid 
antl his kniiwlei_lL;e of the law e.xact and far-reachini;. 
The public recognition of his abilities was first indicated 
by his being made Judge of the District Court of Alle- 
ghany. But it was destined to be shown in a much more 
prominent manner, in his elevation to the highest legal 
office in the gift of the American people, that of Judge 
(if the Supreme Court (if the United States, fie was 
appointed to this high position in 1846, on the death ijf 
Judge Baldwin. Two years after his appointment he 
removed to Philadelphia, which city he thenceforth made 
his place of resilience. 

As a lawyer and jurist Judge Grier has had few supe- 
riors in American practice, his knowledge of the law be- 
ing most extensi\e ixwd his mind store(.l with an imusual 
\ariety of information. His knowledge was accompaniei-1 
with a modesty somewhat rarely found in men of his 
elevated position and extensive acquirements, and a native 
courtes}- and kindness to all with whom he came in con- 
tact in the fulfilment of his tluties that gained him the 
warm good-will of all members of the bench and bar. 
For pr(ibit)' and faii-ness in his judicial (.lecisions, for ex- 
tent and variety of learning, and for width and \'igor of 
intellectual grasp he had no superior upon the bench of 
the Supreme C(-)urt. 

During his term of service many exciting questions 
came before the court relating to the great bone of 
contention at that time between the two tlixisions of 
the American ])cople, that of human slaver)-. Principal 
among these cjuestions may be named the P'ugitive Slave 
Law, the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, the Kan- 
sas-Nebraska imbroglio, the contentions concerning the 
introduction of sla\'ery into the Territories, and the other 
leading circumstances which gave rise to the Civil War. 




In the handling of these questions, with which the 
Suijreme Court had much to do, the fine judicial powers 
of Judge Grier were called into active prominence. His 
predecessor, Judge Baldwin, had enforced the law upon 
these subjects with a promptness which some imputed 
to partisanship. Ju(.lge Grier settletl no question, great 
or small, with undue haste. He was always wisely de- 
liberate, and manifested the same impartial equability in 
all his judgments, whether they referred to matters of 
miiKir interest or to the great subjects of dispute which 
then divided the country into two hostile camps. Per- 
sonal opinion with him had nothing to (-lo with the per- 
f.)rmance of his dutw It mattered not what he thought 
about the morality of slavery or the evils it might inflict 
upon those subject to it. He was there to interpret the 
law according to its meaning, not according t(T his sen- 
timents, antl he peifornied this high duty with strict 
impartialit)'. 

David Paul Brown says of him in the Foniin : "Judge 
Grier is a man of more general and practical knowledge 
than Judge Washington. His clas.sical attainments are 
higher and more cultivated. The grasp of his mind is 
strongei- and more comprehensi\-e : but for experience 
and perspicuity, patience, dignity, and, above all, disinter- 
estedness, no judge that has ever preceded or followed 
Judge Washington ever equalled him." Judge Grier 
resigned his position on the Supreme Bencli in P^ebruary, 
1 870, and died in September of the same year. 



244 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JACOB RANDOLPH, M.D. 

Jacob Randiilfii was born in Pliiladelphia, November 
25, 1796, the descendant of a famih' of Friends, and 
was educated in the Fourth Street school of that Society, 
obtaining there an Enghsh and classical education. 
Having decided upon the study of medicine, he placed 
himself, in 1S14, under the direction of Dr. Joseph 
Woollens, of the Northern Liberties. That gentleman 
dying before his studies were completed, he entered the 
office (if Dr. CIea\'er, an able practitioner of that district. 
He studied also at the University of Pennsylvania, and at 
the age of twenty-one graduated from the medical school 
of that institution. Shortl\- afterwards he set sail for 
China, as a ship-surgeon, but suffered so severely and 
continuously from sea-sickness that he was obliged to 
leave the vessel in England. Thence, after some months 
of travel, he returned home. 

Dr. Randolph entered upon the practice of medicine 
in this city shortly after his return. In i8j2 he married 
the daughter of Dr. Philip Syng Physick. It was at this 
time that he seems to have determined to devote himself 
to the practice of surgery, in which he was afterwards to 
become distinguished. He gained an excellent oppor- 



tunity for practice in this branch of his profession in 1830, 
in which \-ear he was appointed surgeon in the Almshouse 
Infirmary, a post which ga\e him abundant experience in 
operative surgery. In the same year he, with several 
other ph)'sicians, organized an institution for summer 
teaching, called the School of Medicine, in which he first 
appeared as a lecturer on surger\'. His method of lec- 
turing is said to have been impressive and agreeable, 
while in the practical details of surgery he exhibited a 
skill and abilit)- which gained him an immediate reputa- 
tion, and subsequently placetl him anicmg the leading 
surgeons of the countr)-. 

He continued connectetl with the School of Medicine 
while it existed, and for a number of years remained in 
the infirmary, faithfully discharging his duties as surgeon. 
In 1835 Dr. Hevvson resigned his post as surgeon in the 
Penns\-lvania Hospital, and Dr. Randolph was elected to 
succeed him, a position which he retained till the end 
of his life. In his last year he was made Professor of 
Clinical Surger\- in the Universit}' of Pennsyhania. 

Dr. Randolph revisited luu'ope in 1840, and took the 
opportunity while there of spending se\'eral months in 
careful observation in the hospitals of Paris, with a view 
to profit from their inspection. During his absence he 
was elected Professor of Operative Surgery in the Jeffer- 
son Medical College. As this appointment would have 
necessitated his speedy return, he felt obliged to decline 
it, and continued for two years in P^urope. After return- 
ing he became a consulting surgeon, and as such enjoyed 
a large business, his abilit}' rendering his ad\'ice in surgi- 
cal operations very valuable. 

Dr. Randolph, in professional intercourse, was frank 
and outspoken in manner, but alwax's courteous and 
considerate. In disposition he was genial and fond of 
gayety, in manner was open and unobtrusive, while his 
character was one of strict veracity, warm friendship, and 
firm resolution. He was courteous in the expression of 
opinion, but not easily to be turned from opinions which 
he had deliberately formed. In the midst of his useful 
career he was stricken with sudden illness, and died 
P'ebruary 2g, 1848, having won the admiration of his 
associates for his ability, and the love of his friends for 
his amiable traits of personal character. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



245 



WILLIAM B. MANN. 

William Benson Mann, so well kiKiwn in the lc<^al 
and political circles of Philadelphia, is the sini nf the 
Rev. William Mann, who for nearl)- half a century con- 
ductetl a classical school in this cit_\-, while at the same 
time actint; as minister of a Methodist l-lpiscopal Church. 
The subject of our sketch was born in Rurlintjton County, 
New Jersey, in 1S16, where his father at that time con- 
ducted the Mount Holly Acadeni_\-. He was brought to 
Philadelphia in 1821 by his parents, who located in the 
old Northern Liberties district. pAlucatet,! in his fither's 
school, he ser\-ed there for \'ears as assistant teacher, but 
in the meantime studied law, and was admitted tii the 
bar in 183S. In the same jear he was married. 

The youni;" lawyer's abilit\- was soon manifested, both 
in his profession and in the field of politics, into which he 
quickl)- entered. He was onl\- twenty-eight \-cars old 
when he received the Whig nomination foi' mayor of the 
Northern Liberties. But the district was strongly Demo- 
cratic, anil, though he ran far ahead of his ticket, he was 
defeated. In 1850 William B. Recti ran for district at- 
torney, and was defeated according to the returns, liut 
fraud was suspectetl and a contest made, in which Mr. 
Mann acted as one of the counsel for the contestant. 
Mr. Recti won the office, largel_\- through the legal skill 
of Mr. Mann, and for reward offeretl him the position of 
assistant district attorne\-. In 1853 Mr. Reed was re- 
elected, and Mr. Al.uin was reapijointetl. In 1856 he re- 
ceived the nomination himself, from both the Republican 
and American conventions, and was elected, his \-ote run- 
ning 3000 ahead of the other candidates on his ticket. In 
1859 he was re-elected on the People's ticket, and in 1862 
and 1865 by the Republican |)arty, his majority in the 
last year being o\er 10,000. He thus served eighteen 
years in the disti'ict attorne\''s office, si.\ as assistant and 
twelve as chief During all this time he attended to the 
business in person, except some few months when he was 
absent with the arm\-, during which he was allowetl a 
deputy by special act of the Legislature. This absence 
was in the position of colonel of the Second Regiment 
Penns)-l\-ania Volunteers, which he had been instrumental 
in raising, and accompanied to the field. His home duties, 
however, were too important to permit an extended ab- 
sence, and when the ami)- went into winter c^uarters in 
November, 1861, he resigned and returnetl to his ci\ic 
office. 

In his eighteen j'ears of ferretting out and bringing to 
justice the criminals of a great city. Colonel Mann showed j 
a legal acumen and forensic skill which raised him to the 
highest reputation among his fellow- citizens and members 
of the bar. His management in the \arious murder 




cases which came under his hantls was remarkabl}' adroit, 
and he had the expertness of a detective in making his 
wa\' through the cloud of mystery within which such 
cases are usuall_\- shrouded. In his legal practice, after 
leaving the district attorne}'ship, his forensic abilit\- was 
equalh- manifest, and this was particularK- the case in 
contested election cases, the management of which gener- 
all)- fell into his hands. To his skill and ingenuit\- the 
Rejniblican office-lmlders of the cit\\ nf the campaign of 
1868, owed their seats. In reference to this trial we may 
quote from the Eiu-iniio- Tclcgrapli of P'ebruary 16, 1870. 

" We hail only time \-esterday to refer to the fact that 
the Rcpublicui jiarty had reason to be thankful to Hon. 
William B. Mann fir the result of the contested election 
cases. Reading ii\er the opinion of the majority of the 
court affords us a better opportunity of ascertaining the 
real ser\'ices rendered by this gentleman. The reasoning 
and deductions of Mr. Justice Agnew are evidentU- de- 
rived chiefi}- from and based upon the \'er\- able, Iaw\-er- 
like, and logical argument of Mr. Mann ; and it will be 
remembered that the grouping together of the testimony 
and arranging the facts with such systematic precision as 
would strike the attention of the court below, was the 
work of this same gentleman. We doubt ver\' much if 
there is any law\-er in this country who, in cases of this 
character, possesses the genius for concentration and 
presentation of facts which is the characteristic of Hon. 
William B. Mann." 

Nothing in praise of Mr. Mann's legal abilit\' needs to 
be added to this. It will suffice to say, in conclusion, 
that in 1876 he became Prothonotary of the Common 
Pleas Court, which post he still retains. 



246 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




RF.V. EZRA E. ADAMS. 0.1). 

Rev. Ezra E.a.st.max Adam-s was born in Concord, 
New Hampshire, in 1814, and passed his bo\-hood upon 
his fatlier's farm and in attendance upon the pubhc 
schools of that district. He earl\- displayed an intellec- 
tual ability which attracted the favorable attention of Rev. 
Dr. Buxton, the family i)astor, who fitted him for col- 
lege. After completing his studies with this gentleman, 
he was then sent to Dartmouth College, from which he 
graduated in the class of 1836. Having decided to enter 
the ministry, he prepared himself fcir this profession, and 
was ordained in Concord, in the church of his early 
friend and pastor, Dr. Bu.\ton. Immediateh- afterwards 
he sailed for Cronstadt, Russia, as a missionary in the 
service of the American and Foreign Christian Union. 

Dr. Adams spent four years in Russia, in the cities of 
St. Petersburg and Cronstadt, actively engaged in the 
field of duty assigned him, and tlien returned to America. 
After a home probation of a few months, he was again 



sent abroad b\- the Union, being now stationed at Liver- 
pool, England, and at Ha\Te, France, his period of for- 
eign missionary labor on this occasion continuing for ten 
years. He returned to the United States in 1852, and 
became pastor of the Pearl Street Congregational Church, 
of Nashua, New Hampshire. 

Dr. Adams's residence in Philadelphia began in 1856, 
in which \"ear he sought that cit_\', and was induced b\' 
the late Matthias W. Baldwin, who was full\- aware of 
his powers as a minister, to begin preaching in a hall 
in the \icinity of the Baldwin Locomoti\e Works, Mr. 
Baldwin generously guaranteeing his salary until a church 
could be organized. A room was rented in the Odd- 
Fellows' Hall, and Dr. Adams began his pastoral ser- 
vices in Philadelphia by preaching to a handful of people 
whom his patron's exertions and influence had brought 
together. The religious fervor and warm eloquence of 
the new pastor quickh^ attracted others, and it was not 
long before the hall proved too small to hold the in- 
creasing number of his hearers. The hall at Thirteenth 
and Spring Garden Streets (the old Spring Garden Hall) 
was then rented, and a church organized, which con- 
tinued to grow in numbers until it became what is now 
the North Broad Street Presb^-terian Church, at the 
corner of Broad and Green Streets. 

Dr. Adams remained the pastor of the large congrega- 
tion which his eloquence and ability had drawn together 
until 1867, when filling health compelled him to resign 
his charge. He then went to Europe and tra\elled 
through that continent, with the hope that rest and relief 
from pastoral duties would restore his health. His suc- 
cess was only partial. His voice had become affected, 
and he rarely attempted to preach after his return. 

His final post of dut\- was as Professor of Latin and 
Rhetoric at Lincoln L'niversity, which he occupied until 
his death in 1872. Dr. Adams was a fervent and pathetic 
speaker, and had a peculiarly touching voice, which was 
ecjually adapted to a " war sermon" as to the tender and 
solemn requirements of a funeral discourse. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



247 



JOSIAH R. ADAMS. 

JosiAii R. Adams, a i)romincnt member of tlie Pliila- 
dclphia bar, is a son of tlie late Rev. Dr. 1^. E. Atiams, 
and was born in Havre, France, in 1848, durint; the 
period in wliicli his father represented in that countr_\- the 
American and l<"oreign Christian Union. AIi'. .Adams's 
years of earl}- education were followetl liy a periotl de- 
voted to school teachin^r_ during which he fitted himself 
for college by earnest home study. He matriculated at 
Princeton College in 1869, during the first \-ear of the 
presideiic\- of Dr. McCosh.and graduated in 1S73, receix- 
ing first hontirs in orator)- tind literature, his superiority 
over his classmates being indicated b_\' the recej)tion of 
four gold medals and a monc}- prize. 

During his last year in college, Mr. Adams was regis- 
tered both at law and medicine, he not having determined 
which of these to make his future j^rofession. Finally, 
however, he adopted the law, prepared himself for an 
examination for admission to the Philadelphia bar, and 
was admitted to practice in the courts of this cit\', De- 
cember, 1874. His ability quickly made itself felt in this 
profession, and early in his legal career he became a bus\- 
counsellor in bankrujitc}-, commercial and maritime law, 
in which branches of the profession he showed himself 
particularl)- acti\-e ami able. During the \-ears that ha\e 
succeeded his admission to the bar his progress has been 
exceptionally rapid, man_\' cases of importance having 
fallen into his hands, while he has the reputation of ha\-- 
ing advanced more rapidh' in his profession than any 
other lawyer of his years at the Philadelphia bar. 

Of the cases which he has successfully handled, some 
few of the more important may be here mentionetl. ( )ne 
of his early successes was as counsel in the case of Com- 
monwealth vs. Harris, an equit)' suit to enjoin the build- 
ing of a large ba\' wimlow projecting into W'alnut Street 
by the defendant, a Philadelphia millionaire. On the oc- 
casion of the Bi-Centemiial celebration, wliere a number 
of persons were injured b\" an explosion in Fairmount 
Park, he became counsel for several of the sufferers, and 
recovered for them substantial damages. He has also 
represented plaintiffs in land damage and railroad accident 
cases, and has obtained verdicts for large sums from 
railroad corporations. He has had numerous appoint- 
ments from the courts as master, examiner, and auditor, 
and his management of the important interests thus en- 




trustei.1 to his hands has been so able, and the judicial 
powers displaced so marked and creditable, that he has 
gained high reputation as an expounder (.)f the law, and 
his name has been mentioned among his associates as a 
fitting candidate for judicial honors. As auditor in the 
Remington estate, he passed satisfactoril}' upon the dis- 
tribution of a quarter million of dollars. 

(3ne of Mr. Adams's more recent notable cases was 
that of Morrell z'.f. V>;\\\y ,3. cause ((Iihrc \n Miffiin County, 
PennsyKania. In this case he won a decision in his favor, 
the judgment of the court resulting in the overthrow of 
a deed for propert\- \-alued at thirty-five thousand dollars, 
on the ground that it was obtained without consideration 
b_v one standing in a fiduciar\- relation to the granter, who 
was an in\-alid. He has been instrumental in settling 
several estates of descendants in pjigland. and obtaining 
inheritances and legacies for claimants here, and enjoj-s 
an exceptional commercial and banking cliciitUc. 

]\Ir. Adams is a director of the Lawyers' Club, one of 
the founders of Universit\- Club, Art Club, and Phila- 
delphia Yacht Club, and one of the most popular mem- 
bers of the Clover Club. It is not too much to saj- that 
no law)"er of his years has more friends in and out of the 
profession. His kindh' nature wins and keeps the regard 
of a large majority of those who come in contact with 
him in either a professional or social way. 



248 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




HENRY DISSTON. 

Hexrv Disston, founder of the celebrated Disston 
Saw Works, was born at Tewkesbury, England, IVIay 
29, 1S19, where, under his father's instruction, lie early 
acquired a knowledge of machiner\'. His father brought 
him to Philadelphia when he was fourteen \-ears of age, 
and died shortly afterwards, having apprenticed iiini to 
learn the trade of saw-making. In 1843, in his twent}'- 
second }'ear, he started the making of saws on his own 
account, his capital amounting to the small sum of S350, 
his establishment being a small shop near Second and 
Arch Streets. Here he built his own furnaces, made his 
own tools, and was his own foreman, engineer, and sales- 
man, while he wheeled the coal needed from the wharf 
to his shop. In short, he ran for a time the whole 
business himself His early business career was not 
promising; there were difificulties, financial and otherwise, 
to be overcome, and his small capital was depleted b)- 
losses. He persevered, howe\er, against discouraging 
obstacles. Once, after he had made a second business 
start at Front and Laurel Streets, a boiler exploded in 
his works, and he narrowly escaped death. Within ten 
days, with unyielding pertinacity, he was making saws 
again in an adjoining building. 

V>y 1864 his business had grown imtil his sales 
amounted to §35,000 a month, and then fire came, and 
his establishment was reduced to smoke and ashes. 
Within fifteen days after this misfortune he was once 
more engaged in the production of saws under a canvas 
shelter. His goods had hitherto been made from im- 
ported English steel, but he now concluded to manu- 
facture his own material, and began to convert the scrap 



product of his works into steel. Thus was begun a feat- 
ure of the enterprise which has since grown to great 
proportions, and has much to do with the prosperity of 
the business. 

The first great start in the development of the Disston 
Saw Works began with the tariff of 1861, under whose 
operations the American market for its products greatly 
widened. lie had created a new American industry, 
and the protection which was then gi\en him enabled 
him to develop it to magnificent proportions, after many 
years of struggle with adverse circimistances. His suc- 
cess was largely due to the character of his product, 
which he always took care should be of the best. No 
defective saw-blade ever left his factory with his knowl- 
edge, and when asked by a dealer, " Disston, what do 
you put into your saws?" he replied, " Good steel and 
honest work." 

He was the first ni.ui who competed successfulh' with 
England in the manufacture of hand- and back-saws, 
and has the credit of effectually stopping the importa- 
tion of foreign saws, he supplying the trade with an 
article satisfactory on the score of cheapness and unsur- 
passed in quality and finish. During his business career 
he invented more than twenty improvements in saw 
manufacture, among them the valuable one of movable 
or inserted teeth. His business grew steadily in its pro- 
portions, until at the time of his death the Keystone Saw 
Works, as they were called, occupied buildings covering 
o\er two hundred and fift)- thousand square feet of space, 
and employed more than four hundreti workmen, while 
their production of saws was unequalled in quantity in 
any establishment in this country, if in the world. 

He took good care to provide himself with skilled 
workmen, maintaining through his wliole career the ap- 
prenticeship .system, now so lamentably rare in this 
country, and placing his own sons as apprentices in his 
works as they became of the proper age. Hamilton, the 
oldest son, served seven years in the works, under the 
same conditions as the other apprentices, before he was 
taken into the counting-house, and the other sons also 
served their times in the various branches of the busi- 
ness. This system of apprenticeship is still maintained 
in the Keystone Works. 

The bu.siness of the establishment was b}- no means 
confined to saws. Files were another important article of 
manufacture, and various other articles were added, while 
the making of steel became an important feature of the 
works. 

Mr. Disston died March 16, 1878, leaving five sons 
to continue the great business he had founded by his 
industrj-, energy, and perse\-erance. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



249 



ROBERT WALN. 

RoDERT W Ai.N, a clistingLiishcd l'hil,ulcl])hian of a clii- 
tiir_\' past, was born in 1765, bciiiL,^ ;t descendant of 
Nicholas Wain, one of the companions of William Penn 
in his voyage of i68j, and the owner of a tract of one 
thousand acres of land, which he hail purchased fmni 
Penn before leaving luigland. This was near Bristol, 
adjoining Penn's own manor, and was bought with the 
expectation that it would be the site of tlie future cit)'. 
Finding himself mistaken, he purchased another tract of 
land on the city site. I'art of this land is still lield by his 
descendants. I le became \er\- prominent in the new c\\.\. 

Robert Wain, his descendant, inherited a handsome 
estate, anti entered into the mercantile business in partner- 
ship with Jesse Wain, the firm being largel)- engaged in 
the West Intlia ani.1 h'.nglish shipping tratle, and afterwards 
extending its ventures to China and East India. Phila- 
delphia at that period monopolized this traffic, and the 
house of Jesse & Robert Wain was prominent in it for 
many }-ears, doing an e.\tensi\e business, and gaining 
general respect for probit)- and enterprise. During the 
War of 1 8 1 2 Mr. Wain erected a cotton factory at Trentc )n. 
New Jerse\', upon property' he had inherited in that town. 
It was one of the first cotton factories in the country, 
and was looked upon as a large and important establish- 
ment. He also became deepl_\- interested in iron W()rks 
at Phoenixville, his connection with domestic manufactures 
in these enterprises causing him to become an earnest 
ad\ocate of the d<ictrine of protection of American 
industries. 

Mr. Wain was for some \'ears a member of the Penn- 
s}-lvania State Senate, and in 1798, during the .idminis- 
tration of John Adams, was elected to Congress as a 
member from Philadelphia. He was a strong Federalist 
in political oj^inion, and became a member of the minority 
after the election of President Jefferson, but worked 
faithfulh' for the interests of his constituents, being a 
member of many important committees. During the 
sixth session of Congress he presented a petition regard- 
ing the slave trade and fugitive slave law, looking to the 
amelioration of the condition of the slaves, which called 
out bitter opposition from Southern members, particularly 
Mr. Rutledge, of South Carolina, and John Randolph, 
of Virginia. Mr. Wain, while not fully supporting the 
demands of the paper, earnesti}- and firml}- sustained the 
right of petition, in which he was joinetl b)- nian\- of his 
fellow-members. 

After the War of 181 2 the nuestion of government 
protection of American manufactures became prominent, 




and the tariff of 1 8 16, largely a .Southern measure, and 
in ])art almost prohibitor)-, was passed. This roused 
much opposition in the commercial cities of Boston and 
New York, in which free traile was a popular doctrine, 
and a contest ensued which ended in the enactment of 
the tariffs of 1824 and 1828. During the excitement a 
pamjjhiet appeared in Boston, written b\- Henry Lee, a 
prominent merchant, and seeming, by its skilful array of 
figures and arguments, completel\- to overthrow the 
doctrine of protection. The friends of the tariff were 
greatly disturbed b\- the " Boston Report," as it w'as 
called, and the Pennsylvania Societ}- for the pjicourage- 
ment of Manufactures recpiested Mr. Wain to prepare 
an answer, considering him the best fitted b\- ability and 
experience to cope with the powerful advocate of free 
trade. In his reply the fallacies and errors of fact and 
reasoning of Lee were full)- exposeil, and the protection 
party looked upon it as a most triumphant vindication of 
the principle for which the\- contended. Another literary 
labor of Mr. Wain was entitled " Seven Letters to Elias 
Hicks," called foi'th by the controvers_\- in the Society of 
Friends. 

Mr. Wain filled man)- places of honor and trust in 
Philadelphia, being at one time President of Select 
Council, and also President of the Chamber of Commerce, 
the Philadelphia Insurance Compan)-, and the ^Mercantile 
Librar)-. and a director in \arioirs other institutions. He 
was one of the trustees of the University of Penns)'!vania 
and of the estate of Steplien Girard. He died in 1836, 
in the scvent)--first )-ear of his age. 



32 



250 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




HFNRY PRATT. 

Henry Pratt, formerl)- one of the loading sliipping 
merchants of Philadelphia, was born in this cit)', May 14, 
1761, being the oldest son of Matthew Pi-.itt, a portrait 
[jainter of the colonial da)'s of Pennsylvania, and a con- 
temporary in Philadelphia of the celebrated Benjamin 
West. After recei\'ing liis education and gaining a pre- 
liminar\- knowledge of mercantile affairs, he started in 
business for himself, in the line of china and crockery 
ware, before he was twenty-one \'ears of age. After- 
wartls he tuiiied his .ittention to the grocer}' business, 
and finally cmbarketl in the shipping trade, in which he 
displayed such cntcri)rise and fu'-seeing mercantile judg- 
ment that he became eminent .is a sliijjper and accumu- 
lated a large fortune, his name Ijeing well known in all 
the ports to wliich his ships s.iiled. 

As a business man, Mr. Pratt possessed unusLial 
energy ami peiseverance, and an etiuanimity and fertilit\- 
in resources in times of difficulty which saved him from 
more than one threatened calamity, and marked him as 
a man of remarkable character. The mercantile j)uisuit 
was to him more than an avocation; it was a pleasme to 
which he w.is passionately devoted and to which he 
gave all his time and powei's of thought. Ad\enture 
and speculation were strongly attractive to him, while 
his prudence and judgment enabled him to weather all 
vicissitudes of business and pass unharmed through all 



seasons of tlepression. This success was also largely 
due to the great confidence which he had inspired in his 
fellow-merchants and the unlimited credit he enjo)'ed. 
He died Februar)- 6, 1838, after an unusuall)- active 
business career. 

Mr. Pratt invested very largely in real estate, among 
his purchases being the elevated tract of lantl o\erlook- 
ing the Schuylkill abo\e l''airmi>unt, now a fa\-orite part 
of Fairmount Park. Here he built as a residence the 
well-known " Lem(_>n 1 lill" mansion, an edifice and estate 
which ha\e passed thi'cnigh \arious interesting \icissi- 
tudes of furtune. After his occupanc)' it became a place 
of resort, luidei' the name of " Pratt's Gardens," and the 
mansion e\'entuall_\- grew to be a favorite rural place for 
the dispensing of beer to our thirst)' German fellow- 
citizens. The estate liad fallen into the possession of the 
l^ank of the United States, and on the failure of this 
institution was held as one of its assets for the benefit of 
its creditors, l^fforts were made to dispose of it at a 
high price, it having originally cost the bank ;$225,ooo. 
But times were bad ; no one seemetl to want a suburban 
estate at a high figure, and the place remained without a 
purchaser, the mansion and grounds being used, as has 
been said, for public pleasure purposes. 

At length s(.)me shrew tl and far-seeing person suggested 
that the city should buy it as an aid to preserving the 
purit)- of the water of the Schuylkill. The idea became 
jjopidar, a strong public pressure was brought t() bear 
upon the City Councils, and these bodies finally, on July 
24, 1S44, purchased the entire tract of fifty-two acres, 
with its impro\ements, for the nominal sum of 375,000. 
No money ever expended by our city fathers has proved 
more to the advantage of the city. Lemon Hill having 
become the nucleus and the most beautiful and most fre- 
cpiented section of the subsequent I'airmount Park, while 
the mansion built by Henry Pratt as a priwate residence 
to-day stands as the property of the people of Philadel- 
phia, its broad, cool jiorches being welcome places of 
resort. 

Mr. Pratt was three times mai'ried, his first wife being 
P^'ances Moore, his secimd P^liza Dundas, and his tliird 
Susannah Care. He left a large famih' of children. In 
his business-life he may be classed with the most enter- 
prising and successful merchants of Philadelphia, such as 
Girard, Ridgway, Ralston, and otiiers. He died in the 
sevent\--seventh year of his age, after pursuing for a long 
life the even tenor of liis wav as a strict man of business. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



251 



RF.V. ROBF.RT j. WRIGHT. 

Ror.ERT J(isi:rii Wkkiiit was boni in Philadelphia, 
January 17, 1824, bciiit;- tlcsccmlcd fnnii a family of the 
Society of Friends, who, on the division of the tlenonii- 
nation in iSjS, became members of the Ilicksite or 
Unitarian bnuich. His fatlicr, Joscpli WriL^ht, came to 
America from \\'itne\-, Oxfordsliire, ]MiL;land, about 
181 :;, ,uk1 with his brothers entjaL^ed in the manuf.icture 
of umbrellas in I'hiladelphia, a line of business in whicli 
they were pioneers in this countr)-. They founded in 
1816 their establishment on IMarkct Street, wliicli _i,n-ew 
to be one of the larL;est of its kind, the firm Ijecoming 
noted alike for their enterprise anil the intCL^rit)' of their 
dealings. About twenty-five years ag<'), with the aid of 
excellent labor-sa\'ing machines, the outinit of the fac- 
tory had reacheil the large dail}' average of twent)'-two 
hundred umbrellas and parasols, wjiile only four hundred 
and fift)' hands were needetl fur this large production. 

Joseph Wright was a man of earnest charitable in- 
stincts, and fountletl at Frankford Wright's Industrial 
and Heneficial Institute, which, during its more than 
thiit)- )'ears of existence, has been highly useful in 
affording relief to the worthy and needy poor of that 
section of the cit}'. Its benefits include a jaractically 
free library, lectures on liistorical and litei'ary subjects, 
and instruction in photograpliy and in tiie mechanical 
arts. John Wright, one of the brotlicrs, was greatly 
interested in the charities of the cit_\-, and materially 
as.sisted the Visiting Nurse and Lying-in Hosjiital, at 
Eleventli and Cherry Streets, in its early days. 

Robert J. Wright, at the age of fifteen, entered Lafay- 
ette College, where he remained two years, anil then left 
to enter his father's umbrella manufactor)-. After remain- 
ing there a short time he met witli a serious accident, 
which permanently injuretl his tliigh, and rendered him 
unfit for an active business life. This accident resulted 
in a resolution to study for the ministry, and he returned 
to Lafa_\'ette College, from which he graduated in 1845. 
Dming liis college life he was popular among his fellow- 
students, and was elected to the highest honors of the 
various college societies. His close application to stutly, 
however, impaired his health, and, after graduating, he 
returned to business, becoming a partner with his father 
and uncles, and .spending several years of a verj' success- 
ful business life. His health continuing delicate, and his 
desire to enter the ministry being still earnestly cher- 
ished, he withdrew [lermanentK- from business at the end 
of this period, and entered the Princeton Theological 
Seminary, where he took a course of stud_\- in prepara- 
tion for his proposed profession. 




The state of his health, hi_)wever, continueel such as to 
prevent him fr<)m becoming acti\'el)- associated with any 
church. The result of his early injur)' was a confine- 
ment t(i the couch during the greater part of his life, and 
he was obliged to confine himself to the duties of a lay 
preacher, lie becoming a member of the New Jersey 
Conference of the Christian Church. Throughout his 
life his influence was constantl)- and usefully exerted in 
the cause nf religion. Luring all his life lie was a student 
of the Greek New Testament, and at the time of his 
death was engaged in the preparation of a Greek antl 
English Lexicon on a new method, which he believed 
would be highly beneficial to theological students in 
simplif)-ing the study of the Greek New Testament. 

He was the author of many small theological treatises, 
and of " Principia, or the i^asis of Social Science," a 
work which has received fa\-orable mention from Herbert 
Spencer, Rev. Charles Hodge, Professor George Allen, 
anil man\- other enu'nciit scholars. He frequenth' pre- 
pared addresses in response to invitations on education, 
temperance, and similar subjects, to be delivered lor 
him. 

Mr. Wright was a trustee and n(Tn-resident professor 
of Ethics, Metaphysics, and Church History in the 
Christian Biblical Institute of Stanfordville, New York. 
He received the degree of LL.D. from Hanover Col- 
lege, Indiana. He never married. In character he 
was genial and warm-hearted, and earnestly beneficent 
in nimierous directinns. He died at his residence near 
Fi'ankford, where the latter part of his life had been 
spent, June 7, 1 890. 



252 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




GUSTAVUS BERGNHR. 

GusTAVus Bek(iXick, pi\iniincntl\- idcntifTcd with the 
brewing interests of Pliiladclphia, was born in Criiimiitz- 
scliau, Saxony, Novcnibci" ii, 1S3:;. His father was a 
gentleman of Hterary culture, who for a long time was 
mayor of Crimmitzscliau. Mr. Bergncr was educated in 
liis nati\'e land, where he ccmipleted his stuilies in the 
high school of Leipsic. Shortly after his graduation in 
1849, his father, at his instigation, emigrated to the 
United States and settletl in I'liiladelijliia, the si.m being 
then seventeen years of age. 

Immediately after reaching here, the elder Mr. Bergner 
started a small brewer\- of lager beer, a beverage at that 
time almost unknown in this countr\', its use being con- 
fined to a few Germans and such Americans as had ac- 
quired a taste for it abroad. The elder Mr. Bergner died 
in 185 1 , two years after his arrixal in Philatlelphia, and 
his son, then onl\' nineteen, took control c)f the small 
establishment. The output that )'ear was less than four 
lumdretl barrels, a ijuantit)' that now seems very small, 
but sufficient to meet the modest ideas then entertained 
by the young brewer. He could not ha\e dreamed as 



yet of the immense future growth of his business, but 
he employed all his energy in its development, and pro- 
duced a beer of an excellence that rapidly increased the 
demand. 

In 1871, after twenty years of steady growth in his 
enterprise, he entered into partnership with Charles En- 
gel, another successful Philadelphia brewer, their consol- 
idated capital and enterprise in time building up the 
great group of buildings at Thirty-second and Master 
Streets, which now co\'er eleven acres of ground, and 
constitute one of the greatest breweries of the world. 
They contain all the appliances which science and expe- 
rience ha\e de\ised for the brewing, storing, and shipping 
of beer, antl ha\'e their special railroad track and loco- 
motive for the transport of material and product from 
part to part of the village of buildings, while special 
refrigei'ator cars are employeil for freight ser\ice on 
the railroads of the country. The firm assumed the 
name of Bergner & lingel, and was consolidated and 
chartered in 1879 under its present title of the Bergner 
& Engel Brewing Company. Its output at that time 
was about one hundred and fifty thousand barrels annu- 
alh'. It lias nr)w an annual product of more than two 
hundred and fifty th<iusand barrels, which is sold widely 
through this ciuintr)', while much of it is e.xjiorted in 
bottles and barrels to foreign lantis. 

The firm has received medals froni the Centennial l{x- 
position, the World's Elxposition at Paris, and other 
World's Fairs, in attestation of the superior t[uality of 
their product. It has agencies in many of the cities of 
this country, w ith storage ice-houses to receive the bar- 
rels from the lefrigerator cars, and wagons for delivery, 
these lia\ing been established thiough the foresight and 
energ)' of Mr. Bergner. He was elected President of 
the Philailelphia Lager Beer ]5rewers' Association, 
antl ilid much to convince them that co-operation 
was wiser than i'i\'alr_v, anil to obtain the man\- legal 
rights anti other ad\'antages now enjo\-ed b\- the asso- 
ciation. 

Mr. Bergner was married in 1854 to Miss K.itharine 
Wehn. He died in 1883. His only son, C. William 
Bergner, is treasurer of the company. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



253 



CAPTAIN JOHN S. BISHOP. 

John Soast Bishdp, caiitain in tlic Thirteenth United 
States Infantry Regiment, was Ijorn in Philadelphia, 
Marcli 23, 1S34, and has passetl a life of continuous 
niilitar)' service in which few have surpassetl him. He 
is de.scendetl thrciugh his maternal gr.uidfither from John 
Morton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence. His father was well known as a successful 
buildc-r of iron furnaces, and the originatoi- of man}' 
\'aluable improvements in them, ilis grandfithers were 
men of large stature antl great ph_\-sical strength, which 
he seems to ha\'e inheriti.-(I. He is fully six feet high, 
and when working in a rolling-mill, at fifteen j'ears of 
age, could e.isily lift ,1 weight of fi\-e hundred pounds, 
and swing a se\ent}'-pound hammer over his lieatl. To- 
da\", when sixty years old, he is able to m.ike a march of 
thirty miles without show of fitigue. 

He was educated in the [)ublic scliools of I'hil.ideljjhia, 
was apprenticed to the bookbiiuling business, and at the 
age of twenty-one went to Nashville, Tennessee, where 
lie was em])loyed on the Tennessee Baptist. He here 
joined the Shelby Guartls antl obt.iineil his llrst e.xpeii- 
ence in military (.Irill. In 1.S5S he went to Jacksonville, 
Illinois, and was eng.iged there in the liook business at 
the outbreak of the Civil War. He at once entered into 
his countr)''s ser\ice in the reci'uiting and drilling of the 
three months' volunteers, the compan)' ihilled b\- him 
afterwards furnishing fifty-two officers for the serxice. 
In November, i.S6r,hewas commissioned major in the 
Thirty-second Illinois Regiment, but resigned to permit 
two parts of regiments to consolitlate ; antl in May, 1862, 
enlisted in the Si.xty-eightli Illinois, being made sergeant 
on the organization of the company. On June 20 he 
was jaromotcd first lieutenant, the regiment being after- 
wards sent to Alexandria, Virginia, to assist in the defence 
of Washington during the second battle of Hull Run. It 
w,is mustered ciut of ser\'ice, September 26, 1862. 

In I S63 he joined the Indiana Legion at Indianapolis, 
in wdlich he becime captain, and sei'xeil in it tluring the 
Morgan r.iitl. During this period he had entered suc- 
cessfulh' int(.i business, but relinf|uished it on Jul)' 1, 
1864, to re-enter the service as lieutenant-colonel of the 
One Hundred and Taghth Colored Infantr}-. With this 
regiment he served in tlie department of the Mississippi 
and elsewhere, acting as its senior officer during his 
whole period of service, and being commissioned colonel 
in September, 1865. The regiment receix'cd many com- 
pliments for its discipline, appointments, and efficient per- 
formance of dut)-. 

After the mustering out of the regiment, at tlic close 
of the war, he entered the United States service as second 
lieutenant of the Thirtieth Infmtr_\- ; and in No\ ember, 
1869, was assigned to tlie Tliirteenth Infantr}-, then serv- 
ing in Montana. He has been with this regiment e\-er 




since, living the life of a soldier on the frontier, entluring 
great harclshijis, ,uid scarce!}' e\-er remaining at an}- pcist 
for a much longer period than a }'ear. His successive 
promotions have been to first lieutenant in Januar\-, 1872, 
and to captain March I, 1887, which rank- he still holds. 

Captain Bishop's career as ,m ofiTcei' in the regular 
aiiii}- h,is been too diversified a one to be hei'e gi\'en in 
detail, liis first destination was to Cam[3 ("ooke, Mon- 
tana, which lie was ordered to destro}'. To reach it he 
ci'ossed the main di\-itle of the Rocky Mount.iins in J, ul- 
nar}', in an open sleigh, through a driving midnight snow- 
storm. After tlestroying tlie fort and abandoning the 
post, he marchetl back six hundred miles, all hut sevent}' 
being on f mt, the command meeting anil overcoming great 
ilifficulties in crossing streams, etc. i\fter considerable 
ser\"ice in Indi.ui warfare, the regiment was sent to New 
( )rleans, in 1874, iluring the election excitement in that 
cit}', and in 1877 was sent to Wilkesbarre, l'enns}-l\-ania, 
whei'c dangerous labor-riots liad broken out. Here Cap- 
tain lii^hop received conii)liments from (jeiieral 1 lancock 
foi- his pronii)t and efficient ser\-ice in suppressing the 
outbi'eak. After a }'ear's dut\' as instructor of militar}' 
science and tactics at St. John's Cc>llege, Little Rock, 
Arkansas, he passed five }'ears of active service in the 
West, and from Seiitember, 1885, to September, 1886, 
w.is engagetl in a scouting e.x[3edition against (ieroniiiK.), 
the noted Apache chief, during which the companv 
marclied over fifteen hundretl miles in three months. His 
service since that period has been of a (]uieter character. 

Captain Bishop is a strict tliscii)linarian, but is courte- 
ous and kind to his subordinates, and \er\' fertile in re- 
sources. While in Indianapolis he wrote a small book 
on the war, of wliich sixty thousand copies were sold. 
1 le is a M.ison and Odd-Fellow, and an original member 
of the Giand ^Vrm}' of tlie Republic. 



254 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




ARCHIBaMJ^ UJUDON SNOWDEN. 

Hon. a. Louhdn Snowden, l.itc United States Minister 
to Spain, is a descendant of a faniiU- identified for many 
"generations with I'hiladelpliia, William Snowden, tlie first 
American of the fimil_\', havint; had large grants of huul 
in this province as early as 1669, while his son John, a 
very prominent citizen of early Philadelphia, was born in 
this cit}' in 16S5. His descendants continued prominent 
ddwn to Isaac \Va\'nc Snowden, born in Philadelphia in 
1/94, the father of the subject (if our sketch. He became 
an assistant surgeon in the ami)- in his twentieth year, 
was severely wounded in the Seminole War, and after- 
wards practised medicine near Carlisle, Pennsj-lvania, 
where his son Archibald was born August 11, 1837. 

The son, after a preliniinai'y education in academics at 
Newville and Mechanicsburg, entered Jefferson College, 
at Washington, Pennsylvania, in which he pursued a 
distinguished career, and graduated with h(ini>r. He 
had previously, when onl)- fifteen years of age, taught a 
district school. On leaxing college he began the stud\- 
of law, but before his admission to the bar accepted, in 
1S57, the position of register of the United States Mint, 
tendered him by his uncle, Hon. James R. Snowden, the 
director of the Mint. In i.S()i he was commissioned 
lieutenant-colonel of Penns\'lvania vulunteers. In 1S66 
he was promoted to the chief coinership, wliich he filled 
with distinguished abilit}- till 1877, when, without solici- 
tation or know letlge (in his pait, he was .ippoiiited b\- 



Presitlent Ha\-es t(i the position of Postmaster of Phila- 
delphia, which he occupied for two )-ears. In 1879, 
having twice declined the directorship of the Mint, offered 
him by President Ha}'cs, he accepted tk.e position, and 
became the chief executive officer in that institution. 
In 1885, after a service in tlie Mint extending over more 
than twenty-eight years, in which he had rendered most 
\aluable ser\ice, he tendered his resignation to President 
Cleveland, and retired from a position in wliicli he had 
gained a national reputation, and was acknowledged as 
an authiirity on all questidus relating to money, coins, 
and coinage. He conducted the Mint and Post-office 
alike on strictly business principles, in no case employing 
or (.lismissing an emplo\-ee forpolitical oi' partisan reasons, 
and on leaving the Mint was fully justified in his claim: 
" I ha\e the best equipped Mint in the world." 

Politically, Colonel Snowden was originally a Demo- 
crat, but in 1S60 he severed his connection with that 
part}', believing that its principles were detrimental to 
the manufacturing interests of the country. He has ever 
since been a pronoiuiced Republican. In 1889 he was 
appointed United States Minister to Greece, Roumania, 
and Ser\ia, a position in which he greatly adwanced 
Ameiican interests in those countries, negotiating an 
important addition to our commercial treaty with Greece, 
advancing the interests of the American arclutological 
school in Athens, stopping the unlawfiil use of American 
trade-marks in Serxia, negotiating an extradition treaty 
with Roumania, and e.xerting himself successfull}- fjr the 
introduction of American machinery to that countr\-. 

In July, 1892, there being a vacanc\- in the ministr)- to 
Spain, Colonel Snowden was promoted to that post of 
honor " for waluable service rendered." He resigned on 
the accession of President Clevelantl, but remained some 
months in charge of the legation. As an ex'idence of the 
esteem in which he was held, the governments of Spain, 
Greece, and Roumania, on his retii'ement, conferred on 
hini their highest orders of distinction. 

Colonel Snowden's clearness and quickness of intellect 
were excellentl}' shown in his organization of the great 
industrial demonstration connected with the Centennial 
Constitutional celebration in 1887. He is a member of 
the American Philosophical Societ}', of the Sons of the 
Revolution, Union League, Philadelphia Club, Grand 
Lodge of the Masonic order, etc., and was for many 
\-ears a member of the First City Troop, and its captain 
in 1877. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



^55 



JAMHS HLVERSON. 

Jamks ]{l\'i:ks(.)N", a prominent journalist of Philadel- 
phia, was born in luiLjland in 1<S3S, and came with liis 
parents to this country in 1847, settling in Newark, New 
Jersey. Here lie obtained a common school education, 
and at the age of fourteen became a messenger boy in 
the office of the Magnetic Telegraph Company. For- 
seeing that telegraph}-, then in its infuic_\', liad a great 
future before it, the ambitious bo\- set out to master its 
[jrinciples, and at the age of sixteen had become an 
operator. Before he was twenty, he was manager of the 
consolidated offices in Newark, agent of the Associated 
Press, instructor of the ojierators, and, ha\ing l)ecome 
an electrical expert, took part in the construction of new 
lines in the State. 

When the Civil War broke out, Mr. p:i\-erson left 
Newark for Washington, where expert operators were 
in great demand, and within a year became manager of 
the American Telegraph office, a position whicli brought 
him into relations of friendship with Presitlcnt Lincoln, 
Secretaries Cameron and Stanton, and other leading offi- 
cials of the government. He held this position till the 
end of the war, and was l(_)oked upon as one of the most 
faithful and capable men in the telegrapli ser\ice in the 
coiuitry. Confident that the Federal forces must suc- 
ceed, he invested judiciously in government securities, 
ancJ succeeded in acquiring a modest competence. 

In 1865 Mr. Elverson remo\ed to Philadelphia, which 
cit\- has since remained his place of residence. Here he 
began liis journalistic career b_\- establishing, in compan\' 
with a former associate, the Saturday Night, a newspaper 
conducted in the interests of municipal reform. In the 
following year the character of this paj^er was changed, 
and it was made e.xclusively a stor\- paper, Mr. Elverson 
percei\'ing that there was room for a publication similar 
to the Aril' York Ledger, then in the full tide of success. 
iMitirely new methotls were em[)lo\'ed, and the paper 
rapidly grew in circulation, until it gained a weekly out- 
put of three hundred thousand copies, distributed o\'er 
every section of the United States. Since 1879 Mr. Elver- 
son has been its sole proprieti ir. l-"rom the start he has 
made it a rule never to accept gratuitous contributions, 
and to ailmit no matter to its columns that could not be 
read by the most fastidious. In 1880 he established the 
Golden Days, a weekly publication for boys and girls. 
Of the first number of this paper three million copies 
were printed, and distributed in ever\- town and hamlet 
of tlie United States. This required a great outlay, but 
it brought success, the second number having fifty-two 
thousand subscribers, w hile the present subscri[3tion list 
is over one hundred thousand. It was so different in 
character from the ordinar\- juvenile weeklies that parents 
eagerly welcomed it as an antitlote to the pernicious lit- 
erature that so abountled, and letters came to ]\Ir. EKer- 




son hum c]erg_\-men in e\ery State congratul.iting him 
on his success in prn\iding whoU-sonie literature for the 
)'oung. 

In I''ebrLi,ii_\-, 18S1J, he extended his ne\\spa[)er interests 
by the pui'chase of the PhUadelphia Lnqiiirer, at that time 
a two-Cent morning pa[)er, with reduced circulation, 
meagre news facilities, and small editorial force. Mr. 
EK'erson at once put new life into the journal. He 
established it in new ipiarters, bought new t\-pe and 
presses, trebled the editorial force, arranged for iiome 
and foreign cori'cspondence, and strengthened the paper 
in e\-ery w.iy j^ossible. In the fall of 1889 he added a 
Sunda\- edition. In I S90 he reduced the price to one 
cent, increasetl the size to eight pages of eight cohuiins 
each, put in the laigest illustrating plant in the .State, and 
added considerabl)- to the news service. The Iiujiiircr 
was the first one-cent eight-page morning jjaper ever 
published, and incidental!)- it ni,i\- be mentioned that it was 
the first to run its entire press-room b}- electricit}-, and 
to substitute, wherever possible, the long-distance tele- 
phone for the telegraph, a more costl\- but more satis- 
factory method of news gathering. The result of these 
improvements has been ver\' ad\-antageous to the paper, 
which now has a circulation of ninet)--fi\e thousand tlady 
anti a profitable business patronage. In 1894 it was 
moved into a new building, of six stories in height, 
entirely devoted to the publication of the paper, and 
fitted up in a manner nowhere e(iualled in the United 
States in a newspaper edifice. 

In national politics, Mr. EKerson conducts the jjaper 
as a Republican journal, but keejis himself free of po- 
litical affiliations in city affairs. Mr. IClverson's whole 
career has been noteworthy for honor and integrity. " I 
have succeeded in life," lie saj's, " because I was deter- 
mined to win, and to use only honorable means to do so." 



256 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




MARCHLLUS E. M(:D(JWHLL. 

Makcei.lls Edwaki) McDowei.i. was born in Phila- 
delphia, December 12. 183S, beinij the son of William 
H. McDowell, a Ljentleman of Scotch-Irish descent, and 
of Martha Tennent, of Puritan origin. The father died 
when the son was but four years of a^^a-, his mother beinij 
left in moderate circumstances with four children to care 
for. In consequence, it became necessary for him to 
enter eail\' upon the active business of life. 

Mr. McDnwell was etiucated in the Philadeljjhia public 
schools, and at the end of his school course immetliatel}' 
sou<^ht for employment, having been forced tn gixe up 
the hope of beint:^ a plu'sician, towartls which his inclina- 
tion turned. In his search for employment, he traversed 
nearly ever\- business street of the city, meeting with 
numerous rebuffs, but perse\ering energeticall)-, luitil 
finally he was offered a position by Mercer & Antelo, 
tobacco dealers, of 39 South Water Street. His mother 
hesitated about permitting him to accept this situation, 
ha\ing strong feelings against the tobacco trade, but in 
the end siie consented to his entering the establishment, 
in which he continued for the succeeding seven years. 

Me was assiduous and earnest in his attention to his 
duties, but ad\ancement proved slow, and eventually he 
felt it necessary to seek a more lucrati\-e position. For- 
tune brought him at this time the accpiaintance of an 
extensive tobacco manufacturer of Cincinnati, who had 
come to Philadelphia with the purpose of opening here a 
market for his goods. Mr. McDowell accompanied him 
to several dealers, but no satisfactory arrangement could 
be made, and at length the young man proposed to be- 
come an agent for his new acquaintance, and to sell his 



goods on commission. Inquiry having satisfied the mer- 
chant of the integrity and energy of the young man, he 
acceded to the proposition, and was so prompt as to for- 
ward an invoice of tobacco before his new agent was pre- 
pared to recei\"e it. Mr. McDowell hastil}- rented half 
the storeroom at No. 39 North Water Street, and began 
business there in 1863. The old sign under which he be- 
gan is still retained b_\- him in the splendidh'-appointed 
office in the Haseltine Building \\hich he now occupies. 

The )oung merchant began with a capital of forty dol- 
lars, which was all he had left after preparing his office; 
but he went to work with the determination to make a 
daily profit of three dollars, aiul (juickl)- found himself 
doing more than he had Imped. He was able, in fact, 
soon to e.xtend the scope of his business and to start a 
general cmnmission trade in tobacco. His success was 
rapid and gratifying, and he in time became the agent of 
all the leading tobacco manufacturers of St. Louis, Louis- 
ville, Cincinnati, and otiier W'estein cities, his energy and 
activity being so great that in no great time his sales had 
reached the large aggregate of Si, 500,000 per }^ear. 

After the war, he made connections with .Southern 
houses, and his business increased still more raiiidly. In 
the autumn of 18S3 he bought out the interest of Wil- 
liam T. Blackwell in the firm of W. T. Blackwell & Com- 
pan\-, manufacturers of the celebrated "Bull Durham" 
smoking tobacco, and formed a corporation called The 
Blackwell Durham Co-operative Tobacco Company, with 
its main office in Philadelphia and its factories in Dur- 
ham, North Carolina. These work.s produce four million 
pounds of this single brand of tobacco annually, and 
large ipiantities of other brands, while the business inter- 
ests of the coinijany e.xtend not onh' throughout the 
United States, but to all parts of the workl that are 
reached by American commerce. 

Yet, despite the great growth of his business, Mr. 
McDowell continued in his original modest store for 
twenty \-ears, though he was obliged to extend his space. 
P'inall}-, larger quarters becoming imperati\-el\- necessary, 
he purchased the buildings Nos. 603-605 Chestnut Street, 
where he continued for five years, and then sold the 
property- for double the price he had paid for it, propert}' 
in that locality having greatly increased in walue. P^'om 
there he remo\ed to his present e.xtensi\e and hand- 
somely fitted up quarters in the Haseltine Building, No. 
141 8 Chestnut .Street. 

The Durham factory gives employment to over five 
hundied hands, and carries an average of about five mil- 
lion pounds of leaf tobacco. It covers thirteen acres of 
ground, and is kept in unceasing activity. Mr. McDowell 
was married in 1865 to Miss Jennie C. Berlin, of this city, 
and has a family of one son and three daughters. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



257 



ANTONY A. G.AY. 

Captain Antony yAlexanukk Clav, a .soldier in the 
late war, was born in Vienna, Austria, Februar\' 17, 
T839, liis father, I Inn. John Randolph Cla}-, heini,' at 
that time Secretar\- of the American Legation in that 
cit)-. His yi'andfather, Hon. Joseph Cla)% represented 
the city of Philadelphia in the Eighth, Xintii, and Tenth 
Congresses ; while his f.ither, after ser\ ing as Secretary 
of the Legation at X'ienna and St. Petersburg, was 
made Minister to Peru, ;uul remained there till i860. 
During this peiiod he was instrumental in opening 
the .\mazon Ri\-er to commerce, and within his thirty 
years of diplomatic ser\'ice negotiated se\eral important 
treaties. 

Captain Cla)- was educated in Philadelphia, and sub- 
sequenth' engaged in the lumber business in Sullivan 
County, Penn.sylvania. (.)n the nutbreak of the Ci\il War 
he hastened to Philadelphia to tender his services to the 
government, and was appointed quartermaster, with the 
rank of captain, in the Philadel[)hia Home Guard organi- 
zation. This association was designed fir home (jefeiice, 
but its patriotism carried it bex'ond the .State limits, and 
Captain Clay was stationed for a time at P'ort Delaware. 
He was afterwards appointeil first lieutenant <)f Compan\- 
K, Fifty-eiglith Pennsylvania Volunteers, a regiment 
recruited in north-western PennsyK'ania, and composed of 
the sturdiest material in the .State. Ciptain Clay con- 
tinued with it throughiuit the war, anil took part in all 
tiie battles in which it was engaged. At Cold Harbor 
the regiment won official praise for courage and efficiency, 
and among its officers none surpassed Captain Clay in 
valor and readiness. It took part in the storming of 
Fort Harrison, near Richmond, in which engagement 
Colonel Cla\-, its commander, a cousin (if Captain Cla\-, 
lost his arm. He was subsequently brexetted brigatlier- 
general for gallantr_\-. 

After the war, Ca[)tain Cla)' was detailed to act as 
assistant adjutant-general and jiroxost marshal, with the 
rank of captain, at Staunton, X'irginia. He ser\-ed ac- 
ceptabl)' in this post until the autumn of 1865, when he 
was honorabl)- mustered out and returned to Philadel- 
phi.i. On the formation of the Military Order of the 
Lo)al Legion of the United States, he was one of the 
first to join it, his membership dating from 1865. 

On his return to private life. Captain Clay engaged in 
agricultural pursuits in Ellk County, Pennsylvania, an 
occupation in which he has since continued with pleasure 
and profit. In 1886 he became a member of the State 
Legislature, being nominated b\- acclamation, and elected 




b)- the largest majorit)- e\er cast in Flk Count)-. In 1888 
he was re-electeil, his majorit)- running considerably 
beyond that of his party ticket, the Democratic. After 
his second election, he was urged b)- man)- members of 
his part)- to accejit the nomination for .Si^eaker of the 
House, but he emphatically declined, and named the 
person to whom he felt that the honorary distinction 
properl)- should go. He ser\ed, howe\er, on man)- im- 
portant committees, such as those on Corporations, Ap- 
[iropriations. Ways anil Means, Military, Centennial 
Affairs, and Geological .Sur\e)-. As a member of sub- 
committees of the Appropriation Committee he \isited 
most of the penal and charitable institutions of the State, 
and closel)- in\estigated them. As a result of his labors 
the appropriations were cut down about two million 
dollars, without impairing the efficicnc)- of the institu- 
tions. In the House he was exceedingl)- industrious and 
successful, ever)- bill introtluced by him being carried, 
while he gained the reputation of being one of the mo.st 
sagacious and jjrudent of legislators. He was a member 
of the special committee to inquire into the alleged 
abuses of the Soldiers' Orphan School S)ndicate and of 
the conmiission apjiointed to devise a plan for the future 
maintenance of the charitable and corrective institutions 
of the State. 

He was married, in 1864, to Miss Sybella .Seckel, a 
granddaughter of Lawrence Seckel, a former prominent 
citizen of Philadelphia, and one of the founders of the 
Pennsylvania Hospital. Captain Cla)-'s family consists 
of four daughters. 



33 



:5S 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JEROME CARTY. 

Jerome Caktv, one of the most widely-known and 
successful of the yountjer members of the Thiladelphia 
bar, was born at Springfield, PennsyK'ania, October 20, 
1845. I lis fithei', Nicholas Justin Cart)', a Pennsylva- 
iiian <if Irish descent, served in the arm)- during the 
Civil War, and died after its close. Tlie famil}' moved to 
Philadelphia when Jerome was about six years old, and 
his ediicatiDU was obtained in the public sclujols of that 
city. At the age of sixteen, he entered the dfticc of 
Ibm. 1). M. P'o.x, to study con\'eyancing, and remained 
there f )r three )-ears, after which he decided to make the 
law his profession, and entered the law dei)artment of 
the L'niversity of Penns)'Ivania, while he became a stu- 
(.lent in the office of Hon. Charles ]<",. Lex. 

He grailuated from the Uni\ersit}' in 1 866, and was 
admitted to the bar in November of the same \'ear. 
P'rom this time till the death of Mr. Lex (in Ma\', 1872) 
he continued in the office of that eminent practitioner, as 
his colleague and confidential assistant, taking part in 
his extensive practice in equity. Orphans' Court, and cor- 
poration matters. The connection was of the utmost 
service to the young law)'er, in indoctrinating him with 
the excellent business methods of his preceptor. After 
Mr. Le.x's death he continued in charge of the business 
till 1874, wlien he took offices for himself 

Among the important matters settled b)- Mr. Carty, 
after Mr. Lex's death, was the sale of a large tract of 
coal lantls in Pennsylvania to the Lehigh Valley Rail- 
road Company. This transaction took three years of 
labor, and invohed intricate questions of railroad law 
and conve\-ancing, and important interests in New York, 
Boston, Newport, and Europe. He also, for some time 
after Mr. Lex's death, succeeded him as solicitor for the 
Fire Association. 



In 1873, his health failing on account of o\-erwork in 
closing Mr. Lex's extensive business, he went to Europe, 
acting while there as counsel for the Loup Creek Coal 
Trust Syndicate, of West Virginia. This enterprise cov- 
ered a tract of jo.OOO acres of land, and in\-ol\ed a large 
amount of money. His negotiations in London in its 
behalf were successful, until the failure of Ja\' Cooke 
brought on the panic of 1873. In 1878 he conducted an 
important case before tlie Supreme Court of the United 
States, involving large interests in Illinois, and succeeded 
in reversing the action of the Circuit Court f >r the Dis- 
trict of Illinois, and establishing an important precedent 
in land titles in that State. 

In 1882, lia\ing previous!}' had some impintant expe- 
rience in the law of patents and trade-marks, Mr. Carty 
tiiok an office in the Record Building, and associated 
himself in this line of practice, with John .\. Wieder- 
sheim, the uell-knuwn patent solicitor. The business thus 
established has been eminenth" successful, and lias ex- 
tended to the location of offices in New York and Wash- 
ington, Mr. Carty devoting his attention exclusively to the 
law branch. His services in behalf of the city of Carlsbad, 
Austria, in suppressing the sale of spurious Carlsbad salts, 
and in other important cases, have given him an extended 
reputation in the law governing trade-marks. 

Mr. Carty was prominent in the telephone litigation in 
opposition to the Iiell Telephone Compan\', and in con- 
nection with the Londiiu .uul Globe Telephone Company 
of Plngland. He has travelled e.xtensi\'el\' in PLurope, 
has represented the P'ranklin Institute on that continent, 
and has professiimal interests in luigland, P' ranee, and 
Belgium. He speaks French and German fluenth'. In 
1885 he was offered the \ice-presidency of the American 
Exhibition, to be held in London that year, but declinetl 
on account of professi<.)nal engagements. He is the 
accredited delegate of the Manufacturers' Club to the 
National Transportation Association, for which, in 1892, 
he made a comprehensive argamient bef >re a committee 
of the House of Representatives on a uniform bill of 
lading. He is also general counsel for the Association. 

He has been identified with \arious charitable associa- 
tions, being counsel for the Old Man's Home, antl a 
member of the Board of Managers of the Bedfortl .Street 
Mission. He t(.)ok an acti\'e part in the organization of 
the Philadelphia Society for Organizing Charity. He is 
a member of the Franklin Institute, the Pennsylvania 
Historical Society, the Plnion League, the Manufacturers' 
Club, the City Liberal Club of London, the Lawyers' 
Club and Lotus Club of New York, and the Order of 
P^reemasons. He is an active member of the Republican 
part}', and has taken an actixe part in natiimal campaigns. 
Pie is a fluent and impressive speaker and a terse writer, 
having contribiited frequent articles to newspapers and 
magazines on political and other subjects. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



259 



WILLIAM WL;LSH. 

William Wi:i,>ii, d noted pliilanthi-dpist i>f I'liihulcl- 
phia, was burn in this cityalinut iS 10. hciiiL; a hi'dthcr 
(if John Wclsli, well known for his proiiiiiunt connecti(.in 
with the Centennial Ivxposition, and of whom we ha\e 
elsewhere spokeiL Alter reeei\ ini; his education, he 
entered into a nieicantile houst; to eihtain a knowledije 
ot the business, and eventu.dly staited in business for 
liimself, beconiiiii; in time a wealth)' and prominent mer- 
chant, hiL;hh" respected by his fellow-citi/.ens, and occii- 
p_\-inL;- man_\- [jositions of trust and honoi'. Mr. Welsh 
was a man of deep and warm sympathies ,uul stronyl)- 
philmlhropic disposition, and tmik an actixe and living" 
interest in e\er_\-thinL;- relatini; to the good of mankind. 
The wrongs of the sl.ues, the injustice shown to the 
Indians, e\-er\' evidence of inhumanit)', appealed to his 
sympathetic feelings, and his life was spent in efforts to 
undo the wrongs ilone l)y those of selfish and unpuin- 
ci|)led instincts. 

Aniciiig the prominent posts to which he was appointL-d 
were tliose of director of Girarti C(illege and trustee of 
Wills Eye Hospital, w hile, on the formation of the Board 
of City Trusts, he was api^ointed a member, and finalK' 
became president of the Hoard. He was ku'gel)- identi- 
fied with all the philanthi'opic work of the cit}-, ami made 
a chixalrous, though hopeless, elTort to elevate the morals 
of the jHiblic press b\- jnu'chasing Tlic Xorth Aiiicricaii 
and Pliiladil l^liin Gazette, which he conducted for several 
\'eai's ,is an example of what a clean and honest news- 
paper sh(.iukl be. The effort was (Jmxotic. The rival 
newspapers continued in their old immoral course, the 
public supported them to the neglect of Mr. Welsh's 
model sheet, and he at length ga\e up the ,ittennit in 
despair of educating the public into a lo\e for decent and 
moral journalism. 

During the administration of I'resiilent Grant, Mr. 
Welsh scr\'ed as a member of the Peace Commission, 
and took a \'er)' earnest and energetic part in the eii- 
dea\'or to improve the condition of the Intlians and rescue 
them fVom the harjMes who were pi'e)ing upon them. 
This effort [)ro\ed as hopeless as that in which he had 
undertaken to elevate the morals of the newspaper fra- 
ternity. The band of thie\es who had Ijcen for X'ears 
idl)bing the wards of the government, and driving them 




from time to time into rebellious outljreaks, had too 
strong a hokl on the political maciiine to be dispossessed. 
Mr. Welsh anil his associates met with difficulties at 
ever\- turn. The Indian lUireau threw obstacles in the 
way of his philanthroiiic measures, co-operated with him 
in a half-hearted manner onh', and quietly permitted tlie 
Indian agents to continue their nefarious procccciings. 
In the end, the baffled philanthropist retired from the 
field in tlesijair and disgust, fully convinced that philan- 
throp\' and political management were irreconcilable ele- 
ments. His \'iew' of the hopelessness of the effort he 
had undertaken, and of the shameless duplicit)' with 
which Indian affairs were conducted, was expressed in a 
work entitlcil "Taopi and his Friends ; or, Indians' Rights 
and Wrongs," which he wrote in conjunction with 15ishop 
Henry B. Whipple antl Rev. Samuel Button Hinman, 
two of his co-laborers in the Indian Commission, and in 
which the manner in which the helpless wards of the 
nation were treated was plainl_\- shown. 

In addition to the work named, he was the author of 
"La)' Co-operation in St. Mark's Church," "Letters on 
the Home Alission W'ork (if the Protestant I^piscopal 
Church," and "The Bishop Potter Memorial House," 
besides papei's on a \ariet\- of subjects. Mr. Welsh died 
in Phil.ulel|ihia on I'Y'liiuai')- II, iSjS. 



26o 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




J. FRAILHY SMITH. 

J. 1'kailey Smith, late Vice-Prcsitlcnt of the Union 
Leai^ue, was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, January lo, 
1834. His father, Jcjhn Frederick Smith, was a native 
of Reading, but during the earl)' childhood of his son 
removed with his famil\- to Philadelphia, where he after- 
wards resided. His grandfather, Frederick Smith, was ! 
Attorney-General of PennsyK-ania from 1823 to 1828, 
and Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of the 
State from 1838 until his death. His great-grandfather, 
Rev. Johann Frederick Smith, who was the first of the 
family to come to this countr_\-, became eminent as a 
divine of the Lutheran Church in Penns}-l\ania, and was 
one of the pioneers of that denomination in America. 
Of his long period of pastoral service in this .State, se\en- 
teen j'cars were spent as minister of St. Michael's Lu- 
theran Church, of Germantown, his term of service at 
this church including the period of the Revolutionary | 
War. At a later date he became pastor of Zion Church, 

at Fourth and Cherrv Streets, which, until its recent 

. . . I 

demolition, was one of the leading historical buildings 

in Philadelphia. Here he served until his death in 1S12. 

Mr. Smith received his education in the public schools , 

of this city, and graduated from the Central Hisjh School 

in 1850, when sixteen }-ears of age. His business life 

began immediately afterwards in the mercantile house 

of Wyeth, Rogers & Co., which he left in 1852 to enter 

the old dry-goods commission house of Slade, Gemmill 

& Pratt. Here he continued as an employee of the 

firm till 1858, acquiring a thorough knowledge of the 

business, and developing such a mercantile capacit}- that 



in the last named year he was admitted as a partner 
into the firm, its name being chaged to Alfred Slade 
& Co. 

Mr. Slade dying some years afterwards, Mr. Smith 
became associated with Mr. Jarvis Slade under the firm 
name of Slade, Smith & Co., and on the dissolution of 
this firm, at a later date, he entered the dry-goods com- 
mission house of Lewis, Boardnian & Wharton as a 
special partner. In 1S66 he became an active partner 
in the firm of Lewis, Wharton & Co., successors to the 
above, and in the following year retired from active busi- 
ness. He continued, howe\-er, to make the store of 
Lewis, Brothers & Co., to which the firm name was 
changed (238 and 240 Chestnut Street), the localit\- of 
his office. 

During the Civil War Mr. Smith was earnest and 
devoted in his loyalty to the government, and was ever 
ready, with generous heart and open hand to respond 
to any demands upon liis patriotism or charitable aid. 
He became a member of the Union League in the begin- 
ning of its careci', antl was one of its directors almost 
from its inception. At the time of the election of Hon. 
George H. Boker to the presidenc}' of the League, this 
position was offered Mr. Smith, but declined b)- him in 
favor of Mr. Boker, an older and, in his \iew, better 
qualified man. He was thereupon elected first \-ice- 
president, which office he retained until his death. 

r)n the organization of the Northern Pacific Railroad 
Compan\-, which succeeded the Jay Cooke failure in 
1873, Mr. Smith was chosen a member of its Board of 
Directors, in which he continued to serve during the 
remainder of his life. He became also a director in the 
Merchants' National ]?ank. In 1879, at the time of e.x- 
Governor Hartranft's appointment as Postmaster of Phila- 
delphia, Mr. Smith was prominently named and supported 
for the position by the leading merchants of the city. 
He was also named as General Hartranft's successor, 
and it was stated that he had been appointed the e\en- 
ing before he died, though a few days before he had ex- 
pressed his intention to decline a nomination to the office, 
if tendered him. He died June 26, iSSo. 

Mr. Smith as a merchant gained a high reputation for 
unsullied honor and untiring industry, while his fine 
business abilit\- was rewarded with an unusual degree 
of prosperity. Outside of business relations he was a 
man of happy disposition and wide popularity, one who 
was never satisfied unless those around him shared in 
his contentment, while in all the relations of life he was 
guided by the delicate tact and fine feeling which char- 
acterize the true gentleman. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



261 



JOHN R. WHITE. 

Jdiix R. Wiiitk was born in Iialtiniore, Dccenil)cr 17, 
1835, his family remo\-inL;- to I'hiladcl|)liia when he was 
about nine years of age. At tlie outbreak of the Ci\il 
War, lie enlisted as a pri\-ate in the second conipan\-, 
State Fencibles, recruited at 505 Chestnut Street. The 
enlistment was for three months, beinij under the first 
call for \'olunteer troops, and the company was assi^jned 
to the lughteenth PennsyKania Volunteers, Colonel 
Lewis conunantliuL;. The rei^iment was stationed on 
I""ederal Hill, Baltimore, until its time had expired. At 
that time a call was made for volunteers to escort some 
transports to Washinijton via y\cquia Creek. Pri\ate 
White, with about two hundred others, \olunteered for 
this dut)-, antl scr\ed one month longer. They were 
then mustered out of service, but ujxin President Lin- 
coln's subsequent call for three hundred thousantl men, 
he immediatel)- enlisted, again as a pri\ate, in Company 
G, One Hundred and Eighteenth (Corn Exchange) Regi- 
ment. He was now aiipointed first sergeant, and marclied 
with his regiment to the front. At the battle of Shep- 
herdstown.a sequel to Antietam, all the company officers 
being killed, he \\as appointed second lieutenant b_\- 
special order from Major-General Fit/, John Porter, "for 
gallantr\- on the field of battle." The ai^pointment was 
speedily confirmed b_\- Gmernor Curtin sending him his 
commission. 

He continued to ser\-e with the regiment throughout 
the war, participating in the principal battles and skir- 
mishes of the Virginia campaign, including Fredericks- 
burg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness, 
down to the surrender of Lee's arm\- at Appomattox, 
being successively promoted to first lieutenant and cap- 
tain. He was mustered out of the service on the return 
of the regiment to Philadelphia, at the close of the war. 

Captain White now entered into mercantile business in 
Philadelphia, forming with Mr. John Bo}"d the firm of 
Boyd, White it Co., manufacturers, imjiorters, and re- 
tailers of carpets, which house has become, largely 
through Captain White's spirit of progress, the leading 
house in this line of business, not only in our own coun- 
try, but in Ein-ope as well. \X the close of the war he 
married Katie Ashbridge, whose ancestors came to this 
country witli William Penn and were among the earliest 
settlers of this State. Her grantlfather was a lieutenant 
in the Revolutionarv War, was with Washington at Val- 
le\- Forge, and served till the end of the war. Her fa- 
ther. Captain Ashbridge, serx'eiJ in the W'ar of 1812, ami 




also in several of the conllicts with the Inilians. Se\-en 
children make u[) their home circle, — foiu' boys and three 
girls, — of will ini the eldest. John R. White. Jr., has charge 
of the extensi\e retail business of the Bo\-d- White Car- 
pet Coni]ian_\'. and, though but twent\--three \'ears of age, 
ranks .iniong the shrewdest and best-equipped men in 
the trade for successful management and business abilitv. 

In 1886, Captain White opened a branch store at 12 16 
Chestnut Street, whose business was so successful that 
in 1 89 1 more spacious cjuarters became necessar\-, and 
the large building 1332 Chestnut Street was erected for 
the business of the firm, the Market Street store being- 
given up, and the entire lousiness concentrated in the new 
building. In 1S92 it was decided to give up the whole- 
sale trade and to devote all the energy and capital of 
the firm to ni, iking the Chestnut Street store the leatling 
lioLLse in liouse-fLU-nishing in the LTnited States. The ad- 
joining store, No. 1330, was taken; furniture, upholstery, 
aiul interior decorations, including frescoing and wall- 
papering, were added, and the firm is now able to take 
houses, hotels, and clubs from the builder's hands and 
furnish them throughout in .ui}' desired style. 

Capt.iin White is well known, aside- from his mercan- 
tile business, in banking, [lolilical, and si_)cial circles, being 
a director in the Ninth National Bank, the Central Trust 
and Safe Deposit Conipau}-, ami the Industrial Safe De- 
posit C()mpany, aiul is a well-known member of the 
Union League, United Service Club, Historical Society, 
and many other societies, social, secret, and beneficial. 



262 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




RICHARD I'KNN SMITH. 

KiciiAKi) Pkxn Smith, a SdliliL-r wlm scrvctl throiiL,rh 
the late war, was liorn in I'liiladclphia, May 9, 1837, being 
descended IVum a faniih^ '"Hg and fa\'<M'ai)l\' Icnown in 
tile annals (if the (jnal<er Cit}'. Re\'. William Smith, 
fnst I'lovdst of the College and Academy of Philadel- 
|)hi.i (now the Uni\ersit\' of Pennsyh-ania), was his great- 
gr.mdf itlKi'. and a man highly tlistinguislicd as a schnl.ir 
and thinker. llis L^randfathei' was alsn .a literal')' man 
(if distinctidn, aiul the autlmi' of .1 \(ihmie nf poems 
which were widely praised for their fine poetic sentiment 
antl skill in xeisification. llis fithei', Rich.ird Penn 
Smith, the elder, was likewise a skilled ,uid graceful 
writei', and gained reputation alike as a di.imatist and as 
one of the best magazine writers of his d,i\'. Me was 
fir a time editoi' ol the Aiirord, a l'hila(klphia news- 
Ijajjer. .SL-\eral of his pla\'s uei'e well I'eceived on the 
stage, among them being " Caiirs Mariiis," a tragedy 
which he wrote f>i' lulwin P'onest. (.)f his woi'ks of 
fiction, one Ccdled " Colonel Crockett's Tour in Texas," a 
psiiido autobiogiaphy. had an e.\tensi\e sale b(jlh in this 
conntr)' and in luigland. 

Richard Penn Smith, Jr., remained imder the care and 
tuition of his father, in the fuiiily mansion at Falls of 
Sclni_\'lkill, till the death of the kitter in 1S54. I le 
completed his schooling at the W'est Chester Acadenu'. 
Being of an adventurous disposition, he went West in 
1857, and settled in the new Territor)- of Kansas, then 
and afterwai'ds the scene of the disordeis that preceded 
the Civil Wai'. Mere he engaged in mercantile busi- 
ness, and was (piite successful until the struggle be- 
tween the I'ree-Soil and Pro-Sla\'cr}' partisans reached 
a vindence that I'uined all business prospects. Mr. 
Smith now joined a prospecting paity, whose jiurpose 
was to seek the gold-bearing rcLiions of h'raser Ri\'er, 



and in 1S50 settletl at Den\er Cit}-, then a rude hamlet 
of a few houses, mostly adobe. From Denver lie .set 
out with ;i |)art_\' of six to explore the interior wild 
regions of the Rock}' Mountains. The hostilit}- of the 
Indians, however, sooii ol^liged the ad\'enturers to returii. 

Mr. Smith's life of pioneer ad\'enture ended in I S60. 
when he I'etuined to Philadelphia on a \'isit to his home, 
and lemained till the outbreak of the war. Me imme- 
diatel}' enlisted in what was known as Baker's California 
Regiment, — the Seventy-first Pennsylvania, — in which he 
was niade first lieutenant of Ciimpan}' V. With this 
reginient he saw ,1 great deal of acti\e militar}- ser\'ice, 
passing through all the engagements of McClellan's 
campaign before Richmoiul, and the subsecjuent serxice 
of the Ami}' of the Potomac, until iSl^. At P^iir Oaks 
he led the regiment into battle, though ranking onh' as 
lieutenant. General .Sedgwick recommended him fir pro- 
motion fir his g.dkmtr}' in this engagement. lie was 
severel}' wounded at Antietam. Mis services brought 
him succcssix'e steps of promotion, he being made adju- 
tant in P'ebi'uai'}', 1S62, captain in August, ami m.ijor in 
November of that }'ear, and colonel on Ma\' i, 1863, after 
the fall of the g.dlant Colonel Baker at Ball's Bluff. Me 
is Scu'd to ha\-e Ijeeii the }'oungest officer in either aini}' 
at that time serving a.s regimental commander. 

At Gett}'sburg, Colonel Smith won the highest hoiKir. 
Mis regiment was stationed at the " Blootl}' Angle," where 
Pickett's charge of Jul}' 3 was broken, ami it was the hot 
fire which the Sevent}'-first poured into the Confederate 
column that broke the impetus of the charge and turned 
the tide of the battle. Colonel Smith was gi\-en the 
greatest credit, b}' press and arm}- alike, for his gallant 
service on this critical occasion. The regiment was 
mustered out at the enil <:if its term of sei'vice, ]\.\\\ 2, 
1864, the twent}'-t\vo hundred men who had ser\ed in 
its rank's being now leduced to the small fragment of 
one hundretl and fift}'-three. 

After leaving the arm}-, Colonel Smith engaged in 
manufacturing business with General McCandlcss, com- 
mander of the Pcnns}'l\ ania Reser\'es. He afterwards 
went to New York, and engaged there in the wholesale 
coal business with such signal success that he rajiidly 
accumulatetl a fortune. Me perceived that immense 
quantities of the small sizes of coal, millions of tons in 
all, were rejected as refuse, though, as subsequent expe- 
rience proved, well adapted for making steani. He suc- 
ceeded, after niaii}- discouragements, in liaxing the value 
as fuel of this refuse coal proved, induced the railroatls 
to haul it, and continued to deal in it through the re- 
mainder of his life. Po his exertions is due the profitable 
use of great stores of fuel which had been rejected as 
useless and troublesome waste. 

Colonel Smith resided during his later }'ears on Staten 
Island, where he died No\'ember 2~ , 1887. 



UfAKF.RS OF PHILADRLPIJIA. 



263 



SIMON MUHR. I 

Simon i\IrnK, sciiinr nicnihcr nf tin- firm <if 11. Miihr's 
Sons, manufacturiiiLj jewellers of I'hilaiklphia, was liorn 
at Hurbcn, Bavaria, April lu, i'"~'4> and was hroiiLjlit to 
Philadelphia by his father in 1S35, when eiL;lit )-ears of 
age. lie received an etiucation in the piihlie scliools of 
the cit)', and left school at the (,ail_\' a^e of thirteen to 
learn the trade of watchniakiiiL; with iiis fither, wJio had 
established himself in that busini-ss on coming to tliis 
conntry. 

IIenr\- Muhr, the fithcr, was \er\- skilful as a watch- 
maker, IjLit his son pr(i\ed slow in ac(|iiiriiig the me- 
chanical details of the business, ,ui(l, alter t\\i> years' 
Liniirofitable labor ,it the beiuh. l)eL;an to dcvute himsell 
to the connnerei.d liraneh uf his t.ither's estalilishment, 
his ajititude for mercantile pursuits biing much greater 
than that for mechanics. 

Young as he was, his L-nergy and iiulustry and natural 
ficidt}' for trade quickly told on the business of the store, 
and the elder Mr. Muhr sixm f anid his trade materially- 
growing through his s(.)n's acti\it)'. ( )n reaching his 
mai(.:)rit)' in 1866, he was admittei.! to partnership with 
his fither, the new firm taking the name of II. Muhr & 
.Son, while the business had de\ eloped under his admin- 
istration until it reached .m annual total ot se\enty-fi\e 
thousand dollars. The firm now beg.ui to import largel}-, 
anel in 1869 purchased a shop, with its tools and machin- 
er\', for the small sum of se\en hundied dolkirs, and 
began the jewelr\- m.uiuf ictui'ing busiiKss. This modest 
beginning of a great concern \\<is in a sm.dl room on 
h'ranldin Place. 

Mr. Muhr pusheil the new Inrsiness energeticall)-, and 
at the same time devoted much of his attention to the 
details of manufacture, the business growing so rapidly 
under his energetic management th.it new tieij.irtments 
weie neetled from time to time, till by 1885 the little shop 
on Pranklin Place had expanded into the great seven- 
story building at Hroad and R.ice .Streets, which is now 
needed for the manufacturing wdiic of the firm. This 
building was erected antl is owned by Mr. .Simon Muhr. 
It has a frontage of one hundred feet on Broad .Street 
and of one hunilreil and f>rty feet on Race Street, is 
supplietl with all the requisites of elTectixe jewelr)' manu- 
facture, and architecturally is an ornament to Philadel- 
phia's finest a\enue. 

In 1873 Henr\- Muhr retired fidin business, and his 
son Jt)seph was ailmitted into the firm, which then 
assumed the name of II. Miihr's Sons. In 1876 Mr. 
Jacob Muhr was admitted to p.irtnershij), and in 1888 




Jose])h jMuhi' ieliri.'d. The firm at present, therelore, 
consists of .Simon and Jacob Muhr, of whom the latter 
atten<ls chielly to the sales department of the business, 
while the fii'mer takes charge of its manuficturing 
details. I'oi' a numlier of \'ears past the annual sales ol 
the esl.iljlishmcnt h,i\ e been more than a million of dol- 
lars, and the\- are steadily increasing. The imjiortation 
of diamonds and other precious stones is now a leading 
feature of the business. 

Mr. Muhr is ,1 man of such pleasing address and afdible 
manners,, md so genial on all occasions, that his pers(.)nal 
popukuit}- is great. He takes deej) interest in his em- 
ployees, is eaiaiestly solicitous for their welfux-, and is 
regarded l)_\- them as tlu'ir best friend. Me is also w.irmK- 
interestetl in the ch.iritaljle work of the citw and is an 
.ictive member ol ,uul liberal contributoi' to numeious 
benevolent societies, while his private charities are fre- 
quent and large in the aggregate. No one worth)' of 
aid .ippe.ds to him in \ ain. 

j'olilicall)-, he is .m anient Democrat, but has little 
leisure lor politics, .md has occupied no jiulilic position 
but that of school director, declining all offers of nomi- 
nation to othei' offices. lie has an ellecti\e native 
eloquen.ce, combining a ready wit with a directness of 
expression and eaiaiestness of mannei' that carrv all 
before them, and rarely fiil to jiroduce coiniction in the 
minds of his hearers, fie is respectetl by all who know 
him, and regardetl by all cla.sses of his fellow-townsmen 
as an honorable and i)rogressive merchant and manufic- 
turer and a Ljood citizen. 



264 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JOHN J. GILROY. 

John Jav Gilkuv was born in I'liiKulL-lphia, A[M-il 16, 
1846, and received his education in the pujjlic schools of 
tliat cit\', bcin^;" athnittcd til the Central lliyh Schmil in 
1862. In 1S63 lie left school and entered the pay de- 
])artmcnt of the United States nav}', serving;- in the steamer 
" I'aiil J(_ines" on the blockading scjuadion i ilT Charleston 
and along the South Atlantic coast. In 1865 he was 
a[)[)ointetl to the steamer " Suwanee," and pmceeikxl in 
her to the Pacific coast, taking the opportunity tluring 
the voyage to visit .dl the important points from the 
Straits of Magellan to \'ancou\'er, and also \-isiting the 
West Indies, Brazil, ami Urugu.i}-, much to his benefit 
in knowledge anil experience of the world. 

In 1867, Mr. Gilroy resigned from the navy, and took 
a position as clerk in the Hank of the Republic, of Phila- 
delphia, in which institution he advanced from post to 
pijst until he reached th.it of general book-keeper. He 
remained in this institution until 1876, when he was elected 
to the secretaryship tif the Guarantee Trust and Safe De- 
posit Company, which post he still fills. Hon. Thomas 
Cochran had just been elected president of that institu- 
tion, and it is largely to the abilit)' antl activity of these 
gentlemen that the Guarantee Trust owes its subset[uent 
career of prosperity. Tiiey have introduced new features 
in the management of the business, which have proved 
at once an advantage to the institution and a benefit to 
its patrons. 

This institution in 1887 took in hand one of the largest 
financial oiierations of the centur)-, connected with the 



reorganization of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad 
Company, it being selected by the reorganization trustees 
as depository (if the bonds and stock obligations of that 
corporation, amounting to about $200,000,000. This 
immense transaction was placed in the hands of Mr. 
Gilroy. It was one that needed a thorough knowledge 
of finance, for wdiich Mr. Gilroy's twenty-five years' ex- 
perience had well fitted him. He immediately organized 
a corjjs of able assistants, anil in a thorough and sys- 
tematic manner handled the thousands of bonds and 
certificates, examined every detail, registered them, and 
issued a new form of (obligation in their place. All this 
was done in three months, and without an error. He 
also handled the car loans of the Denver and Rio Grande 
Railroad Company in the same efficient and satisfactory 
manner. 

Mr. Gilroy is secretary of the St. Matthew's Beneficial 
Association, an institution which, with its offshoots, has 
grown from its original thirteen to over two thousand 
members. He is also treasurer of St. Matthew's Coal 
Club, and in 1886 was president of the Congress of 
Workingmen's Clubs in the United States. He has for 
years been strongl)' interesteil in building associations, 
and is president of the Good Hope Building Association, 
which, by his careful and conservative management, has 
been made one of the most prosperous organizati(jns of 
the kind in this city. It has run through a large number 
of annual series. He is also a director of the Philadel- 
phia Home Purchasing and Investment Company. This 
association was organized in 1885, its purpose being to 
enable persons of limited means to become owners of 
homes by the pa\-ment of annual sums a little in advance 
of ordinary rental. It has been phenomenally successful, 
and promises to be of great future utility. 

Mr. Gilroy is prominent in the Masonic order, in which 
he has reached nearh- the highest degree attainable. He 
was among the organizers of the Masonic Art Associa- 
tion, and is treasurer of its fund. It is this association 
which has done so much towards decorating the rooms 
of the Philadelphia Masonic Temple. He was married 
in 1S70 to Miss Morence Williams, daughter of William 
H. Williams, president of the Bullock Printing-Press 
Company. Plis family consists of a son and two daugh- 
ters. In religious affiliation he is a member and vestry- 
man of St. Matthew's Protestant Episcopal Church, and 
takes an active part in its .Sunday-school, in which he 
is a teacher. As will be perceived from the preced- 
ing statements, Mr. Gilroy is earnestly devoted to the 
good of his fellow-citizens. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



265 



REV. H. I,. WAYI.ANll 

II. L. W'.w 1 AND, Haptist minister ami late editor of 
the Xatioiial iHiptist, was Ixim in I'li ixjtlence, Rhode 
Island, A[)iil 2^, 1S31J, and is a son nf l-"rancis Wayland, 
the eminent presitlent 1 >f IJiouii Uni\ ersit}', author of 
works that ha\e a w urUl-w ide celebrity and usefidnes.s, 
among them " The l-denients of Aloial Science," whose 
high standing- as an authority mi this subject is every- 
where acknowledged. Francis \\'a)-land, Jr., LL.D., 
elder brother to the subject of our sketch, has been for 
many years Dean of the \',ile College Law School. 

Mr. Wayland was educated in Hrown University, from 
which he graduated in iS4(). In 1S54, he was ordained 
as pastor of a Baptist church in W'oicester, Massachusetts, 
in which he continued until the outbreak ot the Civil 
War. In 1861, he became chaplain of the Se\-enth Regi- 
ment Connecticut Volunteers, a regiment organized and 
conimandetl b\' Colonel (afterwartls Major-General) A. H. 
Terrv. On the promotion of Colonel Terry, the com- 
mand was gi\en to Colonel loseph R. I law ley, who later 
became general, and is now United States Senator from 
Connecticut. Mr. Wayland, in pursuance of his dut}- as 
chaplain, was present in sexeral Ixittles of the war, antl 
after the battle of James Isl.md, June 16, 1862, received 
honorable mention in the official re[)i)rt of the brigade 
commander. 

After the completion of his serxices in the arm_\-, lie 
recei\ed the appointment, in i.SO;, ol I'lolessor of Rhet- 
oric and Logic in Kalamazoo College, Michig.m ; anil 
in 1870 became President of I'"ranklin College, Indiana. 
His connection with these collegiate institutions continued 
until 1872, when he accepted the position of editor of the 
National Baptist, a leading newspaper of the denomina- 
tion, published in Philadelphia, of which city Dr. W''a\'- 
land has .since that date been a resident. His editorship 
of the Fniptist has continued till the present year (1894), 
and during the last eleven \-ears he has been proprietor 
of that journal. 

In addition to his editorial work, Dr. Wayland has 
contributed largely to newspapers, east and west, es- 
pecialh" upon educational and sociological topics, and 
has prepared and read papers before the American Social 
Science Association upon "The Progressi\e Spelling," 
"The L'nnamed Third Part}'," "The .State and the Sa\'- 
ings of the Peojjle," " Social Science in the Law of 
Mo.se.s," " The State and the Saloon," " The Dead Hand," 



'X 



1 






#1 



Laissez-faire Run M 



ill. 



Has the State Abdicated?' 



and " Comimlsor}- Arbitration." In addition to these 
serious topics, Dr. Wa\-land has spoken ireiiuentl)- on 
lighter themes, and has a fund of humorous anecdote 
and a happ\- way of sa\'ing uittil)' the wisest things, that 
ha\'e given him the reinitation of being one of the best 
and wittiest off-hand speakers of the day. 



In authoi'ship, he has [)roiluced "The Life of Charles 
H. .Spurgeon," and, in C(jnjunction with his brother 
Prancis, the " Life of P'rancis Wajdand." He belongs to 
numerous religious and social associations, and has acted 
as president of many religious and denominational or- 
ganizations, and also of the New Plngland Society of 
Penns)d\aiiia, the American Social Science Association, 
the Contemporar\- Club of Philadelphia, and the Christian 
Temperance Alliance of P'astern Penns)-lvania. I le has 
addressed the New pjigland Societies of Philadelphia, 
New YoiT, ISrookl)!!, Indianapolis, and St. Louis, and 
has deli\ereil numerous addresses to other organizations 
on a great \ariety of toj)ics. 

Dr. W'a\-land takes a strong and deep interest in social 
topics, uixin which he holds ad\anced \-iews, his position 
being that of the Christian Socialist, in his earnest belief 
that society and go\ernment need to be reorganized in the 
interest of humanit)- at large. In his view, the State has 
functions to discharge which it has never entered upon 
or even concei\-ed. W'hen business is prostrated and the 
public weUare endangered b\' industrial disturbances, it 
is the right and duty of the State, in his opinion, to en- 
force arbitrati(.)ii, lioth upon the emplo\-er and the em- 
plo^-ed ; to carry on the plant of tile former, if he refuses 
to abide- b\- the decision of the Board of Arbitration, and 
to require the latter to accept its decisions, or stand aside 
and let others ilo so. He believes in postal sa\-ings-banks, 
the postal telegraph, the governn-ient ijarcel-post, and 
.State super\ision of all railroads, and in restriction of 
immigration and graduated taxation. In his view, the 
State has fuller duties to perform than it has ever )-et 
undertaken, and there will be a future for the human 
race larger and loftier than any persons now living have 
coilcei\eil. 



34 



266 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




WILLIAM in:l^l^HR. M.l). 

T)k. Williaji I'Eri'EK, late Pmvust i_if the University 
of Pennsylvania, was born in this city, August 21, 1843, 
his father, of the same name, being a distinguished physi- 
cian, will) held the chair of Theory and Practice of Medi- 
cine in the lhii\ersity from iSfV) to 1 S64. The son was 
educated in the University of Pennsvlvania, graduating 
in 1862. Me then entered the medical deiiartmeiit of that 
institution, from which he graduated in iSfq.and at once 
entered upon the i)ractice of medicine, a profession in 
which he rapidh' rose to eminence, and is now ranked 
among the foremost physicians of the coLinti-y. Duiing" 
his years of practice, he has been connected with \arioLis 
hos])itals, and was chiefly instrument.il in the erection of 
the University Hospital, for which, by his activity and 
personal influence, he secured the gift of a site h'om the 
cit)', ami on whose finance and biiikling committees he 
actetl as chairman. 

Dr. PepjK-r became earl\- connected with the Lhiixei'sity 
as an instructor, lecturing in its metlical school on morbid 
anatomy from 1S68 to 1 870, on clinical medicine from 
1870 to 1876, and acting as profes.sorof the latter branch 
from 1 S76 to 1877, in which year he was elected to suc- 
ceed ])r. Alfred Stille in the professorship of the Theory 
and I'ractice of Medicine, a chair which had been filled 
by his fathei- tluring the period of his student lile. In 
tS8i he was elected Provost of the Lhiix ersit_\', to succeed 
Dr. Charles J. Stille, who had occupied that position 
duiing the twelve preceding years. At the same tiine, 
the tlignity and [lowers of the office were materialK- in- 
creased. 

Dr. Pepper entered upon the duties of his new office 
with that phenomenal energy and power of work which 



are leading elements of his character, and during the 
more than thirteen )'ears of his administration, the insti- 
tution h.is made an extraordinar\' progress, and now 
stands on a le\el with the foremost educational institu- 
tions of the Lhlited .States. There have been ailded to it 
a biological lain iratoiy, the only school of h_\-giene, and 
tlie most admirably e(|ui[)i)ed librar\' building of an)- uni- 
versit\- in the C( >untry. Its Law Schciol has been ad\ anced 
to a three years' course, its Dental School has no supe- 
rior, and its Medical School, the oldest in this country, 
has steadily de\-eloped in its completeness of ada|)tation 
to its purpose. It has receiltl)- jjeen ad\'anced liom a 
three to a foui" years' course, and the high stantling it has 
hitherto maintained promises to be materially ad\anced 
in the futiu'e. i\ recent highl)' important addition to the 
Universit}- is the Wistar Institute of Anatomy, and there 
ha\'e been othei' \aluable ailtlitions not here nameil. The 
acquisitions (jf the L'ni\ersity in land, buiklings, aiul money 
during Dr. Pejiper's pro\'ostship, including the Uni\'ersit}' 
Hospital, amount to the large value of j;2, 500,000, much 
of which has been due to his personal efforts and wide- 
spreail inlhience, while his own contributions ha\ e been 
generous. In April, 1894, he resigned his position as 
Pro\-ost, to take effect at the end of the annual term, the 
demands of his private practice being so great that it 
had become impossible to continue his active services in 
furtherance of the Universit)'. When he took control of 
it, its landed propert)' w.is fifteen acres, its endowment 
about SI, 600,000. At the time of his resignation, it pos- 
sessed fifty-two acres of land and an endowment of more 
than S5, 000 ,000. The members of its teaching force have 
adxanceel from eight\'-eight to two lunulrcd and sixty- 
eight, and of students from nine hundred and eighty-one 
to two thousand one hundred and eight)-. These steps 
of ilevelo])ment were very largely due to Dr. Pepper's 
efficient and enei'getic administration. 

In adtlition to the labors mentioned, he fountled the 
Medical I'liiiiS. and edited it in 1870-71. He was Metli- 
cal Director of the Centennial Exposition in 1876. He 
was one of the founders of the Penns\-l\-ania Museum 
and School of huliistrial Art, is a Fellow of the College 
of Physicians, and member of the American Philosophical 
Society, the Pathological Si.Kiety, the Acadeni}' of Natural 
Sciences, the American Climatological Association, and 
has been connected with \arious other societies and insti- 
tutions. He received the degree of LL.D. from Lafa\'ette 
College in i88r, fi-om Princeton in 1S88, and from the 
University of Peimsyh-ania in 1894, at the annual com- 
mencement, after his resignation as Provost. He is edi- 
tor and author of several valuable medical works, one, 
on the " Diseases of Cliildren," being written in connec- 
tion with Dr. John F. Meigs. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



267 



CHARLHS H. A. HSLING. 

John Gf,{ik<:e l'',sr.iM,, the first American iiiciiiljcr nf 
tlic EsliiiL^ r.imil}-, lamlcd in I'liilack-liiiiia in 1 740, cnnii 1114- 
from the Palatinate, (ierni,in\-. lie was a prominent 
citizen of Philadelphia diiiin,; ami .ifter the Re\ ohition. 
He was an incorporator and fir many \-ears ti'ustee of St. 
iMar\''s Roman Catholic Church, also a trustee nf Holy 
TrinitN' (^erm.ui Catholic Chinch. OiiriiiL; his later years 
he opened hrick-N'.irds on the s([iiare of lancJ between 
W'.ilnnt <md Locust, Si.Kteenth and Seventeenth .Streets, 
and became the leading' brickmaker of the citv. His 
!j;randson, Nicholas P'slint;', was City Commissionei' in 
1S13. Auxiliary .Suiieriiitendent of Fortifications in I S 1 4. 
Health ( )fficer of the Port, I S i 7- Kj, and Harbor Master, 
l,S:;6-V). < 'n his mother's side Mr. P'.sliiiL; is descendetl 
hum C'oinelius Holahan, the first Roman Catholic settler 
of Delaware ( 1735 ). whose descendants were active jiatri- 
ots dining the Re\olution, and it was at lohn Holahan's 
house that Washington had his lK.uki|uartei-^ dming the 
battle of ]ii-.mdyw ine. ( )ne member of the fimily, Mary 
15aum Baker, .sa\ed Tlnimas Wharton, Goxernor of Peiin- 
.syh'ania, from capture by the British in 1777, b\' lierself 
rowing him o\ei' the Del.iware, fidiii lui- home near 
Hridesburg. Another sturdy woman of the fuiiily. 
S<iphia Millefelt, was nearl_\- beaten to death b\- the | 
ISritish fir refusing to I'exeal the place of concealment of 
the fimily silver. Jacob Holahan, Mr. kslmg's maternal 
grandfather, serv'ed in the W'ar of 1 S 1 j, ,uul w.is f ir m,my 
years the leading iron-wright of the cit_\', having all the 
municipal work. 

Charles Henry Augustine Esling wa.s born in Phila- 
delphia, January 21, iJ^45. He was prepared for college 
in the preparator_\- department of St. Josejill's Jesuit Col- 
lege, of Philadelphia, where he later made his classical 
studies, class of 1S63, and afterwards entered the Phi- 
losophy School of Cieorgetown Uni\'ersit\-, D.C. This 1 
institution, at its centennial jubilee celebration in 1.S89, | 
conferred upon him the degi'ce of A.M., Honoris Cciiisd. 

He was the List law student of Hon. Willi. im M. 
Meredith, the distinguished jinist, whose office he en- 
tered at the age of twent}--one. He was admitteil to the 
bar, June 19, 1869. He was later graduated from tiie 
L'ni\eisity of PemisyKania, Jinie 15, 1882, and, after a 
post-graduate ccnu'se of civil law there, became engaged 
in surrogate practice at the Philadeliihia bar. 

Mr. Esling h.is been for years acti\'el}- engaged in lit- 
erary labors, tle\oting himself to the several fields of 
poetr}', history, genealog)', and polemics. He is an apt 
linguist, his eailiest literary p|-oductions being transla- 
tions fi'om krench anil Italian ,iiithoi-s. 1 )uring the w.ir 
he was tile Philadelphi.i corresponilent of the Cincinnati 
Catliolic Telegraph, which, under the direction of the 
[patriotic Archbishoj) Purcell, strongh- sujjported the 
go\ernment. He alsi.i, foi- tW(.) or thi'ee \'ears, contrib- 




uted to the Calluilic kccord, writing a series of articles 
which were noted for their forcible treatment of leading 
religious questions. His later journalistic labors incUuled 
a series of letters from lun'ope to the Evening TcLgrnpli, 
of Philadelphi.i. For some time, also, he was a specialist 
on the staff of the Press. Mr. P',sling enjo\-s an enviable 
leput.itii )n as .1 poet. At twent)'-one \-ears of age he trans- 
lated the '■ ll_\nins of the Roman Missal and I^reviary," 
wimiing much pi'aise for the faithfulness and grace of 
his tr.insl.ition. His " Melodies of Mood and Tense," a 
volume of ch.irming \erse, has won encomiums from sev- 
eral distinguished poets. He has also written one or two 
\-olumcs of cssa\-s, etc. He is an attractive lecturer and a 
\'ers;itile pulilic speaker, his speech at the bar meeting on 
the death of William AL IMercdith being regarded as one 
of the l)rightest f irensic efforts of the junior bar of Phila- 
del])hia. In 1.^77 he was selected to represent the Arch- 
diocese of Philadelphi.i in the Golden F^pi.scopal Jubilee 
of Pojie Pius IX. He also represented the Catholic laity 
and a l.irge number of the 1 lierarch}' of the United States 
.it the \'atic.ui, .and leceivetl from tlie Vo\)<i, through the 
committee of Roman nobles, a massive bronze commemo- 
rative medal, and three others to bear to Mrs. General Sher- 
man, i)resident and members of the American committee. 
Politically, he is an ardent Republican, is vice-president 
of the Penns_\-lvania Republican Club, <ind has twice been 
offeretl, but declined, di[)lom;itic positions at the Russian 
Court. He is connected with numerous clubs, alumni as- 
sociations, and societies, and was co-founder of the Pega- 
sus Club, the Catholic Historical Society, and the De Sales 
Institute. He is interested in athletics as an equestrian 
and oarsni.in, and is President of the West Philadelphia 
Boat Club, and a delegate to the Schuylkill Navy Board. 
He was a member from Philadeljihia to the Catholic Con- 
gresses held at Baltimore in 1,^89 ,ind at Chicago m 1893. 



268 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JAMES POLLOCK. 

James Pollock was b<irn Aui;iist j8, 1846. in County 
Dcrry, Irehuul, of a Scotch-Irish family, and came to 
America with his parents in 185 I, settHng in Kensington, 
Philadelphia. L^e rccei\eil liis education in the cit\- pub- 
lic schools, and began his business life in the drs^-goods 
house of Riegle & l^rother, .Second antl Callowhill 
Streets, with whom he remained until 1877. In this )-ear 
he and his father, James Pollock, Sr., fcTrnied a partner- 
ship for the manufacture of Venetian carpets, p'our \'ears 
later his father died, and he continued the business alone^ 
which has grown to be the largest in this countr\- for the 
manufacture of its special grade of goods. 

Mr. Pollock early developed literary tastes, and became 
a member of several literar)' and debating societies, man\- 
of the members of which now occupy prominent posi- 
tions in public affairs. l"or ten \-ears he was the Phila- 
delphia correspondent of 77/1' Carpet Trade, the first 
American journal to rejjresent the carpet antl upholster\- 
interests of the countr\-. At an earl\- age, also, he took 
an active interest in jjolitics as a member of the Repub- 
lican i>art\-, was secretai-\- of the Nineteenth Ward As- 
sociation, and, on the formation of the Thirt}--first Ward, 
was nominated as the Republican candidate for Select 
Council, but was defeated through a party di\ision. In 
1878 he was appointed a member of the Board of Public 
Education to represent the Thirt)--first Ward, and served 
in this body for nine \'ears, declining a reappointment in 



1888 in consec]uence of his remo\al from the ward. In 
this position he worked eaiaiestly in aid of the de\elop- 
ment of the new methods of education, ser\'ing on the 
committee which organized the De[)artment of Superin- 
tendence, in\-estigated the methods pursued in the schools 
of other cities, and obtained the valuable serxices of Pro- 
fessor McAlister as .Superintendent of the Philadelphia 
public schools. Me served on se\eral other imjiortant 
committees, and was a highh' useful and progressi\e 
member of tlic Board. 

Mr. Pollock was equal 1_\' earnest and acti\e in questions 
of municipal reform, serving on the Committee of One 
Hundred during its existence. He took a strong interest 
in national politics, and frequenth- attended national Re- 
publican conxentions, taking an actixe part in the Chicago 
Convention of 1888, where he urged upon the Platform 
Committee the necessit\' of a strong and clear expression 
of opinion in regard to the polic\- of protection of Ameri- 
can industries. During the Bi-Centennial Celebration of 
the landing of W'illiam Penn, he was selected to organize 
the great trades di.spla}' of October 25, 1882. It is .safe 
to assert the intlustries of Philadelphia have ne\'er been 
more adequateh' exhibited than on this notable occasion. 
It is claimed b\- some that this display ga\e the first 
suggestion to the f.irmation of tlie ^Fanufacturers' Club. 
However that ma\- be, Mr. Pollock was one of the original 
organizers of the club, has been a director from its start, 
anil was an energetic member of its campaign committee, 
wliich rendered such efficient service in the election of 
President Harrison. 

After the fiilure of the Shackama.xon Bank of Ken- 
sington, he took an active part in the organization of the 
Ninth National Bank, and was chairman of its building 
committee. He was also instrumental in the organiza- 
tion of the new Industrial Trust, Title, and Savings Corn- 
pan)-, established in the interests of the working-people, 
and is a member of its board of directors. 

Mr. Pollock is a member of the Union League, in 
which he was elected to the board of directors in 1892, 
and re-elected in 1893. ^^^ belongs also to the Historical 
Society of Penns_\-l\ania, the Bi-Centennial Association, 
the Hibernian Society, Columbia Club, and Albion So- 
ciety, in all of which he takes an active and prominent 
part. Being of a genial and social disposition, he is a 
member of several dining clubs, among whose pleasant 
associations he has formed many of the lasting friendships 
of his life. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



269 



JAMHS RANKIN YOUNG. 

James Rankin Vdini: washcun in I'liilaclclphia, M.ircli 
10, \'^A7 • bciiit^r tlic sccciiid son of Gcorye Rankin 
Younij, and brother of John Riisscll VounL,^ President 
of the Union League and e\-Minister to China. His 
e(hication was obtainetl in the Lixingston (Ir.ininiar and 
the Central High Schools, among his classmates being 
man}" who afterwards became pronn'neiit citizens of Phil- 
ailelphia. During this period of school life the in\asion 
of Pennsylvania b\- General Lee took place, and the pa- 
triotic school-boy, with a number of his classmates, ran 
away and enlisted in the regiment of Gra_\' Reserves 
(Tiiirty-second Pennsylvania Infantry). While on the 
march to the field of Gett_\-sburg, an order was recei\'ed 
by the colonel of the regiment, from Governor Curtin, 
directing that Young and his fellow -students should be 
discharged, as being se\eral \-ears under the age to bear 
arms, and having left their homes without the knowledge 
or consent of their [jarents. The)- were accordingl)- sent 
under guard to Harrisburg, antl returned to their homes 
from that city. At a later date the war-loving lad again 
attempted to enlist, but was once more rejected as too 
young. Eventuall}-, as a compromise, his family per- 
mitted him to accept the post of clerk to Colonel James 
B. .Sheridan. Paymaster of the .\rm>-. This took him to 
the Arm\- of the Potomac, and finall_\- to its concluding 
scene at Appomatto.x Court-House, after which he re- 
turned with Colonel Sheridan to New "S'ork, and aided 
him in jxiying the mustered-out soldiers. \ 

In 1865, Mr. Young, under the guidance of his brother, 
entered the field of journalism, in which, for a time, he 
served as a reporter. He then, in 1865-66, made a tour 
of the South, writing letters from that section to the Xczv 
York Tribune. On his return he became one of the 
founders of the Philadelphia lii'ciiiiig Star, whose exist- 
ence began in April, 1866, and which has since remained 
in his ownership. In June, 1866, he was appointed 1 
Washington correspondent of the Ncic Ycrk Tribune. 
succeeding General Carl Schurz. He remained in this 
position for five years, and displayed in it a tact and 
ability that brought him. from PToracc Greelc\-, the high 
compliment of being the onl\- W'ashington corres]>ond- 
ent of the Tribune who never made a mistake. The 
close acquaintance which he then gained with the public 
affairs of the country he has since maintained, and it is 
doubtful if any other journalist has so profound and inti- 
mate a knowledge of the public life of the last generation. 

Meanwhile, the Evenins: Star was growing in circula- 




tion and aLithorit}-, and Mr. Young at length was obliged 
to withdraw from llic Tribune and de\-ote all his time to 
his own journal, beginning for it, in 1871, that striking 
series of letters over the .--ignature of " S. M.," which he 
has continued until the present time. These letters have 
gi\en their author a national reputation, showing, as they 
do, a dee[) insight into the spirit and philosopln- of go\-- 
ernment, a graceful fanc\-, and a command of hiciti and 
eniph.itic luiglish which are surpassed by no letters in 
modern literature. The_\- stand well at the head of 
Washington cirrespondcnce. 

In December, 1873, Mr. Young was elected Chief 
Executive Clerk of the Senate, a position which he held 
till 1879. ShortK' afterwards he was made Chief Clerk 
of the Department of Justice, under Attorney-General 
Brewster, and in 18S3, his party having again regained 
control of the Senate, he was unanimously re-elected to 
his okl position, which he held till the office was abol- 
ished in 189J. 

Mr. Y'oung has attentletl all the National Conventions 
since those of 1864. He was \ice-president of the com- 
mission to locate the positions of the Penns\lvania 
troops in the battles of Chattanooga, Chickamauga, 
and Lookout Mountain. He has been a member of 
the Union League, and now belongs to the Masonic 
Order, the Pen and Pencil, the Stylus, and the Clover 
Clubs, and the Harrison Association. In 1874 he mar- 
ried Aliss Mary Barclaj-, of Washington, and has a family 
of two sons and two daughters. 



270 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




MORI 17. hlSNl-;K. 

MoKii'z I'",isn'i:k was boin in \'icnna. Austria, in 1S50, 
and after iccci\'inL; his cilucatinn in liis nati\'c cit_\" Ijccame 
an apprentice in a well-kiKiwn ilruL; hduse of tliat place. 
After accjuirini;' some kimw lecltie ol the husiness. he came 
to America when nineteen years okl.and settled in I'liila- 
delpliia. Here he served as clerk for ,1 short time witli a 
wholesale driit; house (Aschenhach iV Miller), and after- 
wards with Cramer & Small, whose establishment was 
famous at the time as one of tlie best and most reliable 
.stores not only in Philadelphia but in the United States. 
Here he completed the education in the business he had 
bei.(im in Vienn.i, worked his w.iy up to the position of 
first assistant in a shtirt time, and finally, in iSSo, inu- 
ehased the business of the firm, with the.iid ot his former 
employers, Messrs. Aschenb.ich iK; Miller, anil became 
its successor. In addition to his business interests, Mr 
lusner became the reL;ular coi-i'espondent for a number 
of German pharmaceutical journals. 

In 1S73, Mr. Eisner visited his nati\e cit_\- for the first 
time since li'a\ iuLj it as a youth, actin;4' now as correspond- 



ent for tile Phililclpliia Dciuokrat during the World's 
Exposition in that cit\'. He was also attached to the 
staff of the AVti' York Tribniw, with Bayard Ta}-lor 
and G. V. Smalle\-, who were in Vienna at the time. He 
acquired a taste for newspaper work there and also 
upon his return home, and was connected with the 
Pliiladclphia Ihiiickrd/ for about one year, a ser\-ice 
which went fir to fit him for his later work. In De- 
cember, 1874. Mr. I'jsner married Miss Anna Zeitz, a 
youn;_;- lady born in I'liiladelphia. Returning at the 
solicitation of his former eniplo}-ers to the drug trade, he 
re-entereil the emplo\- of Cramer &: Small, and succeeded 
them in business in the \-car above stated. The drug 
business, however, did not give him sufficient latitude for 
the displa}' of his energy, and knowing that the treat- 
ment with natural remedies was destined to increase in 
the United States, he began to import the best-known 
mineral waters of Europe and introduce them to the 
medical profession in the United States. After associ- 
ating with himself Mr. Mentlelson, the firm of liisner & 
Mcndelson introduced the now celebrated Malt Extract 
of johann Hoff in the Lhiitetl States. The demand for 
this article soon increaseil to such an extent that the 
manufacturer had to erect a large factory in the United 
States to supiil)- it. The firm removed its headquarters 
to New York in 1SS7, and became the representatives of 
the cit\- of Carlsb.id, the celebrated mineral water resort 
in Austria, for the sale of the products of said spring in 
the United States, also of the French Government Springs 
of \^icli\-, Contre-xe\ille Springs, Ilunyad Mat)-as .Spiing, 
and many of the most famous springs of Europe and 
America. In fict, this house is to-day known as the first 
house in that line here and abroad. The mercantile and 
financial part of the business is under Mr. Mendelson's 
management, while Mr. Eisner attends to the ad\ertising 
department, a ser\ice to which his journalistic experience 
well fits him. 

Mr. I'jsner was a member of many German societies 
1 in Philadelphia, and for many years a director of the 
Phil.ideliihia Maennerchor and of the German Club. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



271 



JOSEPH MHNDELSON. 

JosKPii MF.xni'.i.sox, at pix-scnt a mcrcliant of New 
York, but until within a few )'cai"s past a citizen of I'hii- 
aik-lpliia, is a native of Austria, iKuinjj; Ijccn boin at 
H(.)hcncnis, in that countr}', Marcli 20, 1S52. In Jul)', 
1859, he huuleci witli his jjarcnts in Pliihidclpliia, they 
luuinL;' joined the tide of emigration .settini; so strcinL^'ly 
towards the New Woild. Tlie _\-outhful cniiLjrant was 
entei'ei! as a student in the puhh'c seliools of Philadelphia, 
and continued in the Ljiaeles of piiniary and Ljranimar 
schools till I S64, w hen, at tweh'e _\'ears of a^e, he was 
removed from school to bcL^iii the business of life. His 
father, Daniel Mendelson, hatl established a dry-i:;oods 
business at Second Street and dirard Axeiuie, and, al- 
though not knowing the language, was one of the pioneer 
advertisers of the ilrj'-goods business in the daily papers, 
and the first advertiser in that line in the I'hiladelphia 
Gcrinau Democrat. Young Mendelson entered his 
father's store, his two brothers, \\ ho h,ul taken pait in 
the business, liaxing left it to join the army duiing the 
war. At the end of tw<i years, h(iwe\er, the business 
not proving successful, he began trade for himself in the 
line of selling notions, etc., to the small stores around 
the cit)- : anil in i S67 entei'ed the wholesale notion house 
which his brothers had opened on Al.irket Street after 
the war. 

In 1869, being still but seventeen \-ears of age, he 
opened a retail .store, in pai'tnership with another brother, 
at Tenth and South .Streets. 'I his was discontinued after 
a }'ear, and he continuetl in the jobbing business alone 
till 1873, giving all his earnings up to that time to his 
parents. In 1873 he left Philadelphia as a tra\-elling 
salesman for the firm of Fcust & Rice, dealers in fancy 
cabinet ware. His connection with this firm continued 
for fixe \'ears, tlui'ing which his journe_\'s tonk him tn 
e\er\' section of the United .States. 

At the end of this period of ser\ice, iMr. Mendelson 
marrieil Miss Hattie August, of New York, the daughter 
of a gentleman who had been a resident of Warrington, 
North Carolina, at the outbreak of the war, but, mo\'ed 
by Union sentiments, had fi-eed his slaves when I'oit 
Sumter was fired upon, and remo\ed to New York. Mr. 
Mendelson returned to Philadelphia after his marriage 
and startetl thei'e the firm of M. I'dkin & Co., manufac- 
turers of ladies' and cliildren's fine shoes, a line of busi- 
ness which pro\'etl \X'ry successful. The fiiin was dis- 
solved, howe\-er, in 1881, and Mr. Mendelson then -went 
into partnership with Mr. II. Gardiner, with whom he 
continued for a \-ear. In 1882 he entereil into the firm 




with which he is at pi'esent connected, that of l'".isner & 
Mendelson, wholesale druggists and importers, sitLiated 
at 318-320 Race Street. Mr. Mendelson had, as will be 
seen, for \'ears actively tried <ine business after another, 
with an energ\' which could nut fiil to cnnmand success 
in the cwA. This has come ti 1 him in his present line of 
business, in which he has been highly successful, the 
firm being now engaged in the imjioilation and sale of 
Hoff's Malt Kxti'act and various mineral waters. In 
l886 the}- started a bi'anch stoi'e in New York, and after 
a )'ear there, fintling that the branch had grown larger 
than the original PhihKlel|)hia In mse, the\' concluded to 
remove their entire biisiness to that city. It is now- 
situated at 152-154 I~rcUiklui Street, New \'ork. 

The business of this tii-in has gi-own until it is now- 
laige anil extensive, with important interests in han'ope, 
the house ha\-ing an office in Berlin, German)-. The 
mercantile and fin.mcial jiart of it is luulei- Mr. Mendel- 
son's management, while Mr. Uisner attends to the atl- 
\'ertising dci)artment. During the past ten _\-ears. Mi-. 
Menilelsdii has tnixelled widely in the interests of his 
business and ioi- other purposes, his toui-s JKuing ex- 
tended to ever)- large cit)- of the United States and to 
most of the countries of Iuiro])e. He \-isited the Inter- 
national Medical Congress held a few )-eai-s ago in Ber- 
lin, and has been an earnest and intelligent observer of 
the people of foreign lands and their manners and cus- 
toms. He is a member of several social clubs in New 
York, and also of the Masonic Lodge. No. 206, and of 
the Ancient Chaiiter, No. i. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JOHN W. SUPI^LHB. 

Till'. I'hil.idclpliia famil_\- nf Supplces are of 1 hi!4"ueiiot 
orii;in, the earliest enii;j;i'ant of the faniiU', then named 
Souplis, havini^' left I'rance on the re\'ocation of the 
Edict of Nantes, to seek a realm of relitjious libert}- 
beyontl the Atlantic. This they found in PennsyKania, 
wliich they readied about iG^l. settling in ]MontL;omer_\- 
and Philadelpliia Counties. Andrew Souplis, one of the 
original emigrants, introduced the arts and manufactures 
of France int(.) the new colon}-, aiul built a school-house 
on his Icuul in which religious services were held for se\eral 
generations. He was esteemed b)' William Tenn, and 
appointed b)- him to offices of Jionor ami trust. John 
.Supplee, one of his descendants, was a woollen manu- 
tactLirer, and afterwards became school-teacher and post- 
master of Norristown. When quite \'oung he married 
Eliza Hooven, the descendant of a famil_\- which emi- 
grated from Holland about I 795, during the plundering 
French iiuasions of th<it revolutionary period. Their 
chiklreii include Rev. Flnoch H. Supplee, a well-know n 
Episcopalian clerg\-nian ; William \\'. Supplee, head t)f 
the .Supplee Hardware Comi)an\-, and John W. Supplee, 
the subject of this sketch, who was born in Norristown 
in 1835. 

Mr. Supplee was etlucated in the Norristown puljlic 
schools, and afterwards at the Treemont Seminar)-, in 
which he distinguished himself for skill in mathematics. 
He left school when si.xteen years of age, and at that 
earl)' age received the appointment of postmaster of 
Norristow-n, a po.sition in whicli his courtes)- and efti- 



ciencv in the discharge of his duties 



the 



commendation of all residents of the town. A few 
years afterwards, desiring a wider scope for his business 



ambition, he began his mercaiitile life in the Hour com- 
niission store of J. Kinzer S: Co., of Philadelphia, in 
which he remained Lintil he had gained a thoroue-h 
knowledge of the business, and added the advantage of 
experience to his native commercial facult)-. He then, 
in i860, began business on iiis own account, founding 
the well-known firm of J. W. Supplee & Co. As to the 
progress and standing of this house little needs to be 
said. It has progressed until it is among the first of 
its line in Philadelphia, while it is claimed that in amount 
of sales there is but one other house in the countr)- that 
surpasses it. 

Mr. Supplee has long been connected with various 
financial institutions of the cit)-. He has f(.)i- manv \'ears 
been a member of the Commercial E.xchange, in whose 
affairs he has taken an active interest, serving for a 
number of )'ears as director, and then being unanimously 
elected vice-president, aiul subsequently president, from 
which kist-n.uiied positi(.>n he resigned in 18S6. During 
his period of service as president of the FLxciiange the 
Merchants' Warehouse Con-ipan)' was fornied, largely 
thi'ough his instrumentalit)-. }Ie is now vice-president 
of this association, which has erected one of the largest 
flour storage warehouses in this ci:)untr)-. 

He was for many )'ears a director of the Third Na- 
tional Bank, and was one of the founders of the Produce 
National Bank, on whose ]]oard he also serv-ed. The 
presidenc)- of the latter institution was offered him, but 
declined on the plea of pressure of business engagements. 
In 1887 he became a director of the Corn E.xchange 
National Bank, and in the following year was unani- 
niouslv' elected its president, he iiav-ing consented to 
serve in this important capacit)'. In this position he has 
done much to develop the resources of the bank, whose 
business has steadily grown under his ailministration. 

Mr. Sujiplee is a man of great intlustr)- aiul energy, of 
unusual commercial sagacity, and accurate and careful 
business habits. To these qualities his marked success 
in lile must be ascribed. Though abundantl)- successful 
in acquiiing a competenc)-, he continues in the active 
management of his business affairs, while taking part in 
various charitable and social interests of the cit)-. He 
is a member of the Spring Garden Methodist Church, to 
w hich he has liberally contributed, as well as to other 
religious purposes, among them the Methodist Hos- 
pital and the Methodist Home for Aged Couples. He 
is also a liberal contributor to the Masonic Home, of 
which worth)' charit)' he is a life member. 

He married when quite young Miss May L. Lukens, 
daughter of the well-known builder, Isaac Lukens, and 
has a family of three daughters and one son, the latter 
being at present a member of his firm. 



JfAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



JOSEPH R. TELLER. 

Joseph R. Ti:r.i.Ei<, tlic subject nf the present skctcli. 
is ;i \'oung man, but one wlm eniinentlv' deserves, b\' 
reast)n o{ his success and abilil)' in business, a [iropei' 
place aniony; those who ha\'e achie\ed ie[)utation at an 
earl}- date in the history of his hfe. lie was born in 
Philadelphia, I-"ebruar_\- 7, iS<)3, and received a parti, il 
education in the common schools, until compelleil by 
ill-health to relinquish his stLitlies before he was thii- 
teen years of age. At the entl of two _\ears, with 
re-established lie.ilth. he entered Litiz .\cademy, Lan- 
caster Count)-, PeiinsyK'ania, vvhere he remained until 
his eighteenth _\-ear, when he left to take an office 
position in his fither's leaf tobacco warehouse at 
Lancaster. 

Coming to Philailelijhia in 1882, he became a clerk 
in tlie real estate lousiness of his brother, lienjamin 1-". 
Teller, where he pro\ etl such an atkpt in m.istering the 
details of the business that in tun vxais, — at the age of 
twenty-one, — he was admitted t(j a limited [partnership, 
and two \-ears afterwards to a full partnership, he assum- 
ing charge of the sale and rental of real estate, while his 
brother devoted his energies to the con\e\-ancing and 
loan department. The combination was a well-de\ised 
and fortunate one. With a wide range wheiein to dis- 
play his inherent (jualities of promptness, judgment, and 
energy, he made the work before him his onh' study, 
dex'oting himself to it with an earnestness and ]:)ertinacit\- 
that could not fail to bring success. Under the inlluence 
of enlarged duties and increasing responsibilities, the 
ca[)acities of Mr. Teller seemed to grow apace, he grasp- 
ing ever)- detail ani_l imjii-oxing e\-er\- opportunit)-, until 
now- their firm occupies a leading position in its line as 
one of the lai'gest, if indeed not quite the largest, real 
estate office in the L'nited .States. 

1\L-. Teller's cool and collected manner even under the 
tr\-ing circumstances of a business which bristles with 
techniccdities and difficulties, and his intrepid courage and 
firmness when once his course is outlined, ha\-e earned 
for him well-merited distinction. Further evidence of 
his ambiti(-)n and enterprise is shown in the publication 
of a weekly journal known as Teller s Real Estate Reg- 
ister. The boldness of such a move was a great surprise 




to those in his line of business, and the legal fraternitv' of 
I-'hiladelphia in general, and, as usual, the prophets were 
not slow to predict a speed)' demise of the undertaking. 
The same force, however, which characterize* all liis 
work was ajiplied with telling effect to this new enter- 
prise, w ith the elTect that in the short space of less than 
a \-ear the Register has grown from an eight-page paper 
with a circulation of three thousand copies to a si.x- 
teeii-page jouinal with an issue of ten thousand copies 
weekl)-, — certainl)- a flattering proof of its popularit)- and 
worth. 

( )ur sketch vvuuld lack an im])ortant item if we omitted 
mention of Mr. Teller's courteous bearings and kindly 
instincts. Often, to the knowledge of the writer, has he 
thrown the weight of coiiipassion into the scales when 
stern anil e.vacting business threatened to weigh down 
the other side. He is connected with man)- of Philadel- 
phia's charitable institutions, and is a strong supporter 
of ever)- enteri)rise looking to the welfare and improve- 
ment of our great citv". To his credit it must be said 
that few men have accomplished more at his )-ears, and 
with his energv', ambition, and well-controlled enterprise 
he can .scarcel)- fail to wiri a large measure of future 
success. 



35 



274 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




WILLIAM F. POTTS. 

William Francis Potts was born in Pliiladcli)hia, 
March 20, 1814, liis father, WilHam L. Potts, liaving come 
to Philatlelphia from PLaston in the preceding year, and 
entered into tlie iron business in partnersliip with Amos 
A. Jones. Mr. Potts received liis education in the private 
schools of this city, and graduated at tiie age of eighteen 
from the weU-known school of Benjamin Tucker, at P'ifth 
and Arch Streets. In 1S32 he enteretl his father's store, 
and spent three )-ears there in acquiring a knowledge of the 
business, meanwhile sa\-ing the small cajiital with which, in 
i835,hebegan business foi'himself on Market iiearTwelfth 
Street, three doors from the present location of the store. 

The period of this business venture was b)' no means 
a promising one. One of the worst panic seasons the 
country has e\er passed through was at hand, and the 
young merchant had before him several years of severe 
business depression, necessitating a sharp struggle for 
existence, before which man}- old business houses went 
down. Industry, integrit)-, and a determination to suc- 
ceed, however, enabled him to pass safely through the 
storm of disaster, ami at the end of the period of de- 
pression he began that career of steady success which 
afterwards characterized his business career. He con- 
tinued to conduct business alone till 1869, when he 
associated with him his son, Charles W. Potts, and 
William H. Hibbert.thc firm name becoming W. F. Potts, 
Son & Co. Mr. llibbert died in 1886, and the business 
was conducted by father and son until the death of the 
former in 1891. It has since been carried on by Mr. 
Charles W. Potts, the former firm name being retained. 

In 1852 Mr. Potts purchased his jjrescnt office and 
store. No. 1 225 Market Street, and in 1 860 built one of the 
largest iron warehouses in the country, on Filbert Sti-eet, 
in the rear of the store. In 1874 the importation of tin 



plate was atlded to the business, which h.is continued to 
grow until now it is the largest of its line in Philadelphia. 

Mr. Potts politicall}' belonged originally to the Whig 
[xirt}-, and became a member of the Know-Nothing or 
People's party during its brief continuance. He after- 
wards joined the Republican organization, of which he 
continued through life a stanch and ardent member. 
He avoiiled public office e.\cept in one notable instance, 
that of his membership of the Board of Guardians of the 
Poor, on w hich he served for four years pre\'ious to the 
consolid.ition of the cit\-, as a member from the Spring 
Garden district. This official position was no sinecure. 
Mr. Potts was not long in the Board before he became 
aware of nefarious [jroceedings, and at length was led to 
suspect some of its members of such practices that he 
indignantl)- applied to them the epithet of " Iioard of 
Buzzards;" a title which clung to them for \-ears after- 
wards. These practices were those of selling the bodies 
of dead paupers to doctors or hospitals, they being 
stolen from their usual repository for this purpose. Mr. 
Potts, in his vigorous in(|uiry into this abuse, met with 
o[)position at every turn ; the other members of the com- 
mittee of inquiry refused to second him, and his attempt 
to make a report on the outrage was choked off by the 
action of the Board. But he persisted with that indom- 
itable courage which always characterized him, aroused 
universal public indignation by his statements, and finally 
broke u[) the infami:)us traffic, aiul instituted other reforms 
which ha\x' since been of great service to the Almshouse. 

In 1854 Mr. Potts purchased his country seat of 
Hopeton, at Merion Station, on the Peiins\-l\'ania Rail- 
road, and entered earnestly into agricultural pursuits, 
and particularly into the raising of fine stock. He was 
one of the earliest importers of Jersey cattle, and took 
numerous prizes at agricultural fiirs. In 1837 he mar- 
ried Miss Caroline Tryon, (.laughter of George W. Tryon, 
the well-known gunsmith of Philadelphia. His children 
were a son and a daughter, of whom the latter died in 
March, 1894. During the war Mr. Potts was an ardent 
supporter of the go\-ernment, an early member of the 
Union League, and a free giver of time and mone_\' in 
the work of raising troops, providing hospitals, etc. He 
purchased goods largely for the government, at the 
request of Secretary Welles and President Lincoln, posi- 
tively refusing to accept any compensation for his ser- 
vices. His private charities at all times were extensive, 
and few have started more young men in business, advanc- 
ing them capital on the security of trust in their integrity. 

Mr. Potts was a man of great personal strength, genial 
in character though never undignified, easy of approach, 
agreeable in manner, and generous to a fault. His life was 
one of social enjoyment to all who knew him, and of benefit 
to the communit)- in which he li\ed. He died March 7, 
1 89 1 , when within a ^c\\ da\-s of seventy-seven years of age. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



275 



EDWARD M. PAXSON. 

IIiix. 1m)\\aki) at. 1'a\>on. late Chief Justice of tlic 
Supreme Cmirt (if l'eiinsyl\aiiia, was boi'ii at lUickiiv^- 
liani, l^ucks Ci unity, PennsyKania, September 3, 1824. 
lie is of Enylisli descent, and his family may be traced 
to H)'cot House, ]?uckinL,diam, ]5ucks County, PaiL;land, 
uliere they liad resided fi'nm the d,i\-s of William the 
Conqueror. Tile American brancli nf the faniih' came 
to this country about 16.S2, as a ])ait of the colony of 
I'riends foundetl b\' William Penn. The parents of 
Judge Paxson were Thomas ,ind Ann Paxson, his mother 
being descended from a f.miily that came from Ii-ehmd 
prior to the Re\-olution. He recei\ed liis education in 
the scliools cif the P'rieiids' Society, and showeil such 
unusual intellectual powers, that when but fifteen },'ears 
of age he succeeded in winning ,1 pri/.e, consisting of a 
complete library set of the " Waxei'ley No\els," oflered 
by the Saturday Courier for the best essa)* or tale. 

His school studies eniling, he concei\-ed tlie idea of 
cstatilishing a newspaper in his nati\e count}', and to 
prepare liimself fv.- this enterprise learnetl the art of 
printing. He then foimded the Ncii'toii'u Jounial. at 
Newtown, Rucks County, and edited arul conducted it 
with such skill antl abilit}' as to attract much favorable 
attention. In 1847, having conducted the Journal \\\\\\ 
an accompanying printing-office for five j'cars, lie sold it 
and removed to Phil.idelphia, where lie tounded a ])aper 
called the Daily Niws. This was sold in its turn, after a 
year's existence, and the young editor turned liis attention 
to the stud\- of the law, towai'ds which he had long felt 
an inclination. His studies were conducted inuler Hon. 
Henr\' Cliapman, of Do)'lestown, and ended on April 24, 
1850, witli his admission to practice at the bar. After a 
short term of practice at Doylestown, he removed to 
Philadelphia, where he opened an office, and, b\- energy 
and earnestness, in a few years built himself up a large 
and lucrati\c practice. 

By the time of the beginning of the Civil War, Mr. 
Paxson had gained a very extended and profitable legal 
business, and was in receipt of an excellent income. 
During the war lie was a firm and zealous sLipporter of 
the cause of the government, and politically a stanch 
Republican, from the principles of which party he has 
never swerved. In 1869 lie was selected by Governor 
Geary to fill the vacanc}- on the bench of the Philadel- 
phia Court of Common Pleas, occasioned b\' tlie appoint- 
ment of Judge F. Carroll Brewster to the post of Attor- 
ney-General of the State. This act of the executi\e 
was heartily endorsed in professional circles, while Judge 
Paxson ga\e such general satisf ictioii by his judicial 
ability on the bencli, that at the close of the term he 
received the unanimous nomination of the Republican 
part}' for the office. He was elected b}' a majority much 




be}'ond lh.it for the rest of the ticket, the [)eople thus, 
without reg.u'd to party lines, testifying their respect and 
confitlence in one wlio had shown himself a learned and 
upi'ight judge. His later record on the bench of the 
Common Pleas added so greath' to his reputation that 
his name was soon mentioned in connection with higlier 
iui_licial honors, antl in 1874 he recei\'ed the nomination 
for Justice of the .Supreme Court of the State of Penn- 
s}'l\'ania,and was elected to this exalted post, the election 
being the first held under the new Constitution of the 
State. 

As a justice of tlie Supreme Court, Judge Paxson 
quick'K' took a leading position among his colleagues, 
and niaint.nned it In' his iiulustr}', learning, and fine ju- 
dicial powers. A master of tlie law, his opinions were 
remarkable for clearness, terseness, and logical exactness, 
}'et the}- all show careful preparation and deep thouglit. 
His industi}' w.is untiring, and he was conscientious to 
the last degree, making a scrupulousl}' thonjugh exami- 
nation of e\'cry matter that came before him for JLidg- 
ment. I\Lui}' most important cases, invoking in the 
aggregate millions of dollars, which came before the 
Supreme Court during his connection with it, were in- 
trusted by his associates to his decision, the}' thus tes- 
tifying to their deep confidence in his judgment and 
integrit}'. No judge on the Supreme Bench of the State 
ever stood higlier than he in the respect and esteem of 
the conimunit}', ami when, in J.inuary, 1879, he became, 
by seniority, Chief Justice of the State, his accession to 
this dignit}' was greeted with general satisfaction. In 1 893 
he resigned the office of Chief Justice to accept that of 
receiver of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Corn- 
pan}', and is at present engaged in the difficult task of 
seeking to settle the in\'ol\ed affairs of that corporation. 



276 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




CLARKH MERCHANT. 

Cr.AKKE Mkkciian 1', a leading; dealer in metals in 
Pliiladelphia, was born at Oj^icthorpc l^iarracks, Savannah, 
Georgia, September 20, 1836. He comes from a dis- 
tinL;iiishcd and [)atriotic stock". Ills t^i'andfalhcr. Gcorye 
Merchant, fonyht in the War of 1.S12, aiid was afteiwards 
Mayor of Albany, and New \'i)rk St.ite Treasurer. His 
father, Charles Spencer Merchant, was one of the first 
cadet.s admitted to West Point, and seized thi-oiiL;h all 
the grades of the army until AuL;iist, iS'13, when he was 
retired with the rank of colonel. In March, 1S65, lie 
received the bre\et rank of briL;adier-L;eneral " for Vnv^ 
and faithful ser\ices in the arm_\-." He clied in 1879. 

General Merchant had sexeral sons, one of wliom died 
from a wound recei\etl while in service atjainst the 
Seminole Indians of Floiida. Clarke Merchant was 
entered in the United States Na\-al Acatlemy as a cadet, 
and graduated as a midshipman in 1857. His first 
cruise in that capacity was on the sloop-of-war " German- 
town" to the luist Indies, China, and Jajjan. .Afterwards, 
when Unitetl States Minister Ward was .sent to Fekin, 
Mr. Merchant was made e.\ecuti\-c officer of the steamer 
" Toe\--wau," which was chartered to convc)- the Minister 
to the Chinese capital. He was present when the 
English stiuadron was defeated Ijy the Chinese forts on 
the Pei-ho Ri\-er, and his vessel towed the boats contain- 
ing the English .sailors and marines into action. Commo- 
dore Tatnall on this occasion made- the nienior.ible dec- 
laration that " blood is thicker than water," and under 
this sentiment proceeded to render valuable assi.stance to 
the British combatants. 

Sub-sequently, Mr. Merchant was .sent to the Medi- 
terranean on the steamer "Susquehanna," and on the 
outbreak of the Civil War was appointed to the " Pensa- 
cola." But as this vessel neetled repairs he was ordered 



to the Pacific s(|uadron. when he was ajJi^ointed llag- 
lieutenant under Admiral Mi.mtgomery, and afterwards, 
when Admiral IkU succeeded to the command, was 
made llag-lieutenant antl ordnance officer of the scpuulron 
Desiring, however, moi'e acti\e serxice than could be hatl 
in the Pacific, he, in common with many officers ot the 
squadron, applied for ser\ice in the Atlantic. 

The request was granted, and on his anixal in the h'.ast 
he was aj^pointcd second lieutenant on the " Roanoke," 
then at New York. On the arrival of that frigate in 
James Ri\ei- he was matle e-Kecuti\e officer. At the 
close of the war he was ordered to the Naval Academy 
at Newport as executixe officer of the frigate " Constitu- 
tion," used there as a training-ship. Lieutenant Merchant'.s 
duty being as instructor to cadets. He resigned from 
the nav\' in ^SC);. with a view of engaging in a business 
life, aiul came to Philadelphia, where he became a 
member of the fii-m of C.irman, Merchant & .Shaw, agents 
in that cit\- for the Pacific Mail Steamshij) Comixmy. 

The business of this firm came to an end in the dis- 
covery of coal in the Pacific States, and Mr. Merchant 
entered into business alone, as agent for the New BedtortI 
Copper Company, his trade being principally in sheathing 
metal. To this he soon added sheet copper, and, his 
business growing, took a larger store in 1868 at 517 
Minor Street. His ne.\t move was to 507 Market Street, 
where he remained ten years. While there, about 1878, 
he added tin iilate to the line of troods handled, and 
ex-entualK- nKide an arrangement with the tin manu- 
facturers of Wales b_\- which he gained a controlling posi- 
tion in this line of trade. His house now handles the entire 
product of some of the leading brands of roofing tin. 

The growth of his business rendering more space 
necessar)-, Mr. Merchant mo\-ed to 525 Arch Street, and 
subsequent!)' to 317 Arch Street, where he now occupies 
a store speciall}' erected for the business, and strengthened 
to bear the great weight of brass, tin, iron, ami other 
metals which make up the stock of the firm. Some 
\-eai's ago Mr. Merchant began to guarantee the brands 
of tin i)late handled by him, and to stamp the grade, size, 
and weight on the plates, so that purchasers would know- 
precisely what they were bu\'ing. This system has re\'olu- 
tionized the tin trade, dealers and manufacturers generally 
ha\ing been obliged to adopt it. The good f lith it indi- 
cated has inured to the advantage of the firm of Merchant 
& Co., whose trade has steadily grown, and who now 
have Ijranch offices in New A'ork, Chicago, and London, 
managed b\' young men sent from the Philadelphia office. 

Mr. Merchant married, in 1863, Miss Sarah S. Watts, 
daughter of Hon. llem-y ]\L Watts, at one time Lhiited 
.States Minister to Austri.i. His son, Henry W., is now 
a member of the firm. Mr. Merchant is a member of 
the Military Order of the Lo\'al Legion, and an American 
of warmly patiiotic sentiments. 



jr.lKHRS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



'-// 



JAMHS F. SUI.I.IN'AN. 

Jamks F. Sri.i.iVAX was hm-n in 1.S4I), close I)\' the 
liomc (if Spenser, tlie aiithni- of " The h'aerie (Juecn," at 
Grange, a few miles from Mallow, Ireland. Shortly after 
the death of his fither, |ohn Sulli\an, which occurred 
when he was a little child, he \\,is hiduglit hy his mother, 
I'^llen Supple Sullivan, the daughter of John Upton 
Supjile, to Philadelphia, where he and all of the famil}' 
ha\e since resided. When seven \'e.us old. he was sent 
to the i)ublic schools of this city. ()n leaving school he 
was employed by F'ield Brothers, a liiin of which John 
Field, late postma.stcr of Philailelphia, was the head. 
Here he accjuired a knowledge of the business in which 
he ha.s since been engaged, and in iSOb. belore reaching 
the age of manhood, he started business in connection 
with his oldest brother, Jeremiah J. .Sullivan, as whole- 
sale dealers and importers of hosiei'y, dress trimmings, 
and white goods. The funi. named Sullixan &: Brother, 
was at first located at i 12 and 114 Xoi'th l'"ouith Street, 
and has been highly successful in its business operations. 
Mi-. .Sullivan tra\elled widely in its interest through the 
L'nited States ami ban-ope. and thiough his exertions 
made direct connections with the m.uiuf ictin-ers of cer- 
tain lines of textiles which had before sold all their 
goods through commission houses. G<iod management 
and energetic work haxe made the business ol the tirm 
continuously successful; it has the distinction of ne\er 
having been a defendant in a l.iwsuit of any kind, and 
to-day it stantls as one of the f )remost houses in its line 
of business in the United States. 

Mr. Sulli\-an, after leaving school, realized the impor- 
tance of a thorough educati<in, and for fifteen years 
afterward-s de\'otei.l most of his leisure time to a course 
of systematic stud}', under cajiable tutors. He was 
married in 1S86, at Long Bi-anch, to Lulue Romaine, 
oldest daughter of Washington R. Nichols, of New 
^'ork. He has fu' yeai's been connected with many of 
our leading financial antl other institutions, and has been 
\'er\' actix'e in the woik' of municip.d reform. He is a 
member of the Acadeni)- of N.itural .Sciences, the His- 
torical Society of Pennsylvania, antl several clubs, and a 
trLLstee of the Catholic High School. He took an active i 
part in the reorgani/.ition of the I'inance Compan\- of 
Pennsylvania, and was one of the f )unilers of the Inde- 
pendence National ]-!ank, in both of which institutions 
he is a director, as also in the Alech.uiics' Insiu'ance 
Company. 

I'or many years Mi. .Sullivan has been interested in 
the tlevclopment of the passenger railw a\- system of Phila- 
delphia, ami particularl)- of the P'lankfird and South- 
w.nk', now leased to the h'.lectric Traction Companv", of 
which his brother, Jeremiah J. .Sullivan, is president. 




He is a director of this company and of the Creen and 
Coates, and is vice-presitlent of the I.ehigh A\enuc 
Company. He is interested also in sevei'al ii'on, steel, 
and textile nianufictories in different parts of the countr\-, 
and is vice-jjresiilent of the Mid\-ale .Steel Compan)-. 

Mr. Sullivan, while giving so much of his time and 
<ittention to business affiirs, has Ijeen mindful of his dut)- 
as a citi/en, and has been active in the ref >rm movement 
in citv, .State, and national affiirs. .Since the organization 
of the Citizens' Municipal Association, he luis been an 
earnest member of its F,.xecutive Connnittc'i-, and has 
done much useful woik in securing the proper ])aving of 
streets, building <>f bridges ,ind sewers, and similar city 
improvements. 

Six months bef ii'e the colla])se of the Keystone and 
Spring Garden National I'ianks, and the notable investi- 
gation th.it fiUowed b_v a connuittee of Councils at the 
suggestion of the Citizens" Municipal Association, he 
called s]-)ecial .ittention in a detailed report to tlie abuses 
that [irevailed in the office of the City Treasurer, in the 
practice of hianing immense sums of citv money without 
authoritv of l.iw to the banking institutions above 
named, and to other fivdrites among the banks oi the 
city. He suggested th.it il woukl be best fo|- the citv 
that its mone\- should be loaned onlv to such regular 
depositaries as would pay a reasonable rate of interest 
therefir, so as to |-emove from the Citv Treasurer the 
temptation to loan it at interest for his own personal profit. 
The outcome of tliis method of operation has fully 
proved the wisdom of Mr. .Sullivan's suggestions, and 
the city authorities have acted in accortlance with good 
adv ice, after sustaining heavy lo.ss through the defalcation 
of their trusteil financial agent. 



278 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




BHNJAMIN FRANKLIN I lil.LHR. 

]>ic\jAMiN I'"kanki.in' Tellick, Soil of Ra|)hacl and 
Liniisa (//I V Mayci) Teller, was Ijmn in I'liiladclplna, Jul)' 
22, 1S53. lie attended public .schools, and j^raduated 
from the Hoys' Central Hi.nh School in February, 1S71, 
recei\inL;' there the degree of ]?achelor of Arts, and in 
1S76 that of Master of Arts from the same institution. 
1 le fie(|uented the Law School of the University of Penn- 
syKania, ,ind profited by the lectures delivered there. In 
Octol.iei', iSji, he entered as clerk in the coiu'cyancini; 
and real-estate office of W. Frederick Sn)'der, remaining 
there until January I, 1876. He then opened an office 
on the second lloor of the north-east coi'ner of I'"ifth and 
Chestnut Streets, being located there from January until 
April of that _\-eai'. In the latter nK.mth he toi.ik quarters 
with Mayer Sulzberger, Esq., on the second lloor of the 
north-east corner of h'oLuth and Chestnut Streets. 

Mr. Teller's beginning was lumihle, indeed, but in the 
lapse of three years his business increased be\-ond the 
capacities of his small office, so that in April, 1 879, he 
and Mr. Sulzberger secured large rooms on the secontl 
fioor of the building at the north-east coiner of .Sixth 
and Chestnut -Streets (Mart's Buildings). Pluck, energy, 
and perseverance had brought their reward, and Mr. 
Teller's business increased to such e.vtraordinary propor- 
tions that, notwithstanding enlarged accommodations, 
the firm — then consisting of Benjamin ¥. and Joseph 
Raphael Teller, the latter having been admitted to part- 
nership in February, 1S84 — fountl it necessary to .secure 
additional room, and removed to the second lloor of the 
building at the north-west corner of Sixth and Chestnut 
Streets in March, 188S. There they possessed almost 
e\-er\' facility for the conduct of their con\-e\'ancing, and. 



more particidarl)-, of their real-estate business, which, 
however, continuetl to grow still larger, requiring, in 
May, 1891, another remo\'<d, this time to the capacious 
second floor of the Piihlic Ledger building, at the south- 
west corner of .Sixth and Chestnut Streets. This they 
have since occupied, except during an interval occasioned 
by a fire in December, 1892. Oscar Benjamin Teller, a 
well-known atttirney, has his office in the same quar- 
ters. 

Benjamin V. Teller & Brother now direct a real-estate 
business b\' far the lai'gest ever known in the history of 
Phihulelphia, and \\'ing with the UKist extensive houses 
of the same kind in the United States. In this connec- 
tion a statement may be of interest. In 1S76 the senior 
member of the firm emplo_\-ed two clerks, conducted 
negotiations for the rental or sale of less than one hun- 
dred houses, and handled cash amounting in all to less 
than $200,000. In 1893 the firm had in its employ more 
than fifty inside and outside clerks, had for rental or sale 
six thousand houses in Philadelphia and suburbs, and 
handled cash amounting to upwards of $3,000,000. 

The Messrs. Teller are attorneys, in fact, for numerous 
persons and corporations in the purchase of real estate 
and mortgages. They are members of and contributors 
to secular and Jewish institutions, and have at x'arious 
times been solicitors for a large number of building and 
loan associations. They were organizers and managers 
of the once existing Real Estate Exchange. Notwith- 
standing the increasing \'olume of their business, Benja- 
min I". Teller has become one of the most untiring laborers 
in the community of his fellow-religionists. A simple 
mention of the functions he tlischarges in Jewish institu- 
tion.s will suffice to demonstrate his exceptional usefulness. 
Since April, 1S84, he has been treasurer of the congre- 
gation Rodef Shalom, of which he had previously (since 
April, 1882) been a director. For the past fifteen years 
he has been secretary of the Jewish Foster Home and 
Orphan Asylum. Since October, 1877, he has occupied 
a similar jxisition in the Hebrew Charit}- Ball Association. 
In }anuar_\', 189I, he was elected treasurer of the Jewish 
Maternit)- Association. On the organization of the Jnoisli 
F^xpoiiciit Publishing Company, in iVpril, 1887, he was 
elected its president. He is a member of the Mercantile 
Club, and has served as its treasurer continuously since 
December, 1876. 

All these positions, and others, he has filled and con- 
tinues to fill with scrupulous fidelity and uncommon 
ability. His career — and he is still a young man — has 
been as remarkable as his labors are constant. On the 
one hand he has been the gainer, and, on the other, the- 
communit)- of his brethren has greatly benefited by his 
unremittin<f services. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



279 



F.nWlN S. STUART. 

lunviN SvPNEV Stuart, Ma_\-c)r of rhiladcl|)liia, was 
burn in this city, December j8, 1853, his father, of Scutch- 
Irish descent, haxin^,' come to America when a child, and 
en_L;aL;ed in the cai)inet-makinL; business in .Scjiitliw arl-;, 
I'hiladeipliia. Edwin, the oldest s(.in, was educated in 
tile public schciols of the city, and ,it the aije of fourteen 
obt, lined ,1 place as errand bo\- in I,ear\''s old book store, 
then situated at Fifth and Walnut Streets. Here he 
made himself ver)- irselul, and L;ained much knowledge 
of men and thin;4s from the instructive conxersation of 
tlie distins^uished authors and jniblic men who fie<|uenti--d 
the place. Mr. Lear_\'s health l.)ecominL; imiiaiied, much 
of the burden and caie of the business fell u|ion his 
xciutliful assistant, who proved ([uite capable of nianaL;in;j; 
the establishment. In 1S74 Mr. Lear)- tiled, and for two 
years Mr. Stuart conducted the business for the benefit 
of the estate. At the end of that time, in I S76, lie ])ur- 
chaseil the business fidm \V. \. I.eaiy, the executor, 
and has since conducted it with hi;_;hl_\' encouraginLj 
success. He removed it after a time to its present 
location, No. 9 South Ninth Street, anil in these larLjer ; 
quarters has built \\\) what is the larj^est establishment 1 
of its kind in the Unitetl States, a store containing; ! 
se\eral hundred thousanil vulumes, many of them those 
old, rare, and curious works in which book-lo\'ers : 
deeply deli^jht. Mr. Stuart has published little, his 
most impoi'tant issue beini; Watson's "Annals of I'hila- 
deljjhia," a three-\ olume work full of curious informa- 
tion. 

Mr. .Stuart earh' took a warm interest in public allairs, 
and in 1880, durmi; the Garfiekl presidential campaign, 
he became prominent as a member of the Young Repub- 
lican organization, .uid w.is elected its treasurer. This 
body did much in promoting the Republican success of 
that year. In 1S81 some difference of opinion arising 
in the club on the management of the State campaign, 
the president, lIam[)ton L. Carson, resigned, and in 
January, 1882, Mr. Stuart was elected to the presidency 
ox'er Mr. Carson, wliose name was again presented. Mr. 
Stuart was annuall)- re-elected to this position until the 
date of his election to the office of mayor, when he re- 
signed the presidency of the club. The wide-spread in- 
fluence of the club is largeh'due to his executive ability. 
He was a delegate to the National Conventions of 
Re|Hiblican League Clubs at New York in 1S87, and at 
Baltimore in 1889, and was elected president of the 
PennsyKania State League of Republican Clubs, h)' a 
unanimous vote of the Lancaster Convention of 1S88. 
He w^as re-elected at Pittsburg in 1889. In addition to 
his duties in connection with the club, he was an elector 
on the Hlaine ticket in 1884, was a delegate to the Con- 




vention that nominated Harrison in 18S8, and has served 
in various other cajiacities of this character. 

In 1886 he was nominated for Select Council b)' the 
Republicans of the Twenty-sixth Wartl, and elected b}' 
the largest maj(n'ity evei' cast in the ward. He was 
I'euominated in 1889, on which occasion the Democrats 
indorsed his candidac}', in consecjuence of his services 
in the improvement of the ward, and he was unanimously 
elected. After the atloption, in 1886, of the new charter 
of Philadelphia, known as the "Bullitt Bill," an earnest 
movement was maile foi' the nomination of Mr. .Stuart 
to the mavoralt)-, a movement that would probably have 
been successful, but for his positive declination in favor 
of Edwin H. P^itler, whose nomination had been tlecided 
upon b\' a niunber of the party leaders. In 1890, at the 
end of Ma)-(>r Fitler's term of office, Mr. .Stuait was 
made the candidate of the part)', and was elected by the 
largest majority e\er given a cantlidate for the office of 
mayor of Philadel[)hia. He was inauguiateil on April 
I, 1891, having arisen fVom the ei'rand boy of 1867 to 
that high position in twent\--four _\-ears, and being the 
v'oungest man ever electetl to the [position. 

Ma)-or Stuait's official record has been one marked b\- 
an earnest spirit of reform and an unde\iating ilesire to 
advance the interests of the city. Philailelijhia has made 
greater progress in municiiial iinprowments during his 
administration than in that of an_v of his predecessors, 
and he has caiiied through important measures of reform 
against the severest op[)osition. He will leave the office 
with the consciousness of having occupietl it with the 
sole thought of the public good, and with the gratified 
feeling of having won the appreciation oi all public- 
spirited citizens. 



28o 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




WILLIAM ILARVLY IJ-AVIS. 

W'li.r.iAM lL\K\i;v Lewis was bmn near Lewis's AliUs, 
Ik'luKjnt Count)-, ()liiii, December 24. 1S51. He is de- 
scended froiii a family which playetl a prominent pait in 
the t.-arl_\- histor_\- of PennsyKania, the first American 
nieml)er of tlie famil_\- bein;^' Henr_\- Lewis, of Xarljerth. 
I'embi-okesliire, South Wales, who came to this country 
eail_\- in 1682, antl was a hiend and ciimp.uiion of W'iL 
liam I'eini and a m.in of etlucation and inlluence. llis 
first place ol residence in this countr_\- was at Chester, 
then known as L'[)laiul, fioin which he .ifterw'ards re- 
mo\'ed to ILuerford, with a winter residence in I'hihulel- 
phia. i\mon^' liis tlescendants luwe been a ULmiber of 
men of note, those of recent date includinL; Eli K. Price, 
the eminent lawyer; Paiocll Lewis, tile mathematician: 
I Ion. Joseph J. Lewis, Judge of the Supreme Couit ; and 
I Jr. Cieorge Smith, of L)elawnre County, the historian 
and botanist. i\notlier iles'cendant who has acquired 
reputation is Graceanna Lewis, who has long been an 
ardent and successful student of natural history. She is 
a member of the Acailenu' of Natural Sciences of I'liila- 
d(.-lplii,i and other scientific societies, is a skilful painter, 
and has lorj'cars been earnestl)- interested in philanthropic 
work. 

The gi-eat-grandfatlicr of the subject of this sketch, 
Samuel Lewis, was born in Delaware County, Pennsxl- 
\ania, and moved to l-"airfa.\ Count}-, Virginia, where 
there w-as a settlement of J-'riends. 1 fere Ills grandf ither, 
Isaac Lewis, was born, and subseciuently moved to 
Washington Count\-, Peiins\l\ania, tlie seat of another 



I Friends' settlement. Me became an ow-ner of coal lands, 
and was engaged in the mining of coal between 1820 and 

I 1S40. Like man\- of his fellow-members of the Society 
of P'riends, he was deepl_\- con\-inced of the iniquit}- of 
lumiaii slaver}-, and became acti\el\- interested in lending 
aid to fugiti\e slaves on their wa\- to Canada, a station of 
what was termed the "Underground Railroad" being 
located in his mines. In this line of philanthropic work- 
he was closel}- associated with Dr. Lemoyne, a well- 
known and ardent Abolitionist of that period. His son 
moved to Belmont Count}-, ( )hio, and settletl in what was 
known .IS the Plainfield Meeting di>ti-ict. Here the sub- 
ject of our sketch was born. 

(_)n his mother's side M)-. Lewis can claim equall}- long 
American descent, the famil}- having come to this country 
two lumdred }-eavs ago, and settled in Loudon County, 
Virginia, whence his great-grandfather, Abner Gregg, 
moved to Belmont Count}-, Ohio, in 1802. This branch 

j of his famil}- had also been Friends since they came to 

1 this country. Mr. Lewis continues a member of the 
religious societ}- to which all his American ancestors 
belonged, and holds a certificate of membership in the 
meeting at Fifteenth and Race Streets. 

Mr. Lewis spent llis early life on a farm, gaining such 
lessons there as nature possessed for his boyish mind. 
He was gi\en a preliminar}- education in the schools of 
the disti'ict, and when seseiitccn }-ears of age entered 
college at Hopedale, Ohio. After two years spent in ad- 
vanced stLidies in this institution, he left it to embark in 
business life, his first enterprise being undertaken in 
partiiershij) with llis elder brother, Isaac Walker Lewis, 
in the line of general merchandise, at RushsyK^ania, Ohio. 
The brothers continued in business together until 1874, 
w hen the partnership was dissohed, and Mr. Lewis canie 
to Philadelphia, in which city he has since resided. 

Here lie took a position in the house of Gregg 
15rothers, wodl merchants. \\'ith these gentlemen, who 
were his uncles on his mother's side, he remained for 
nearl}- eleven }x-ars, and at the end of that period began 
business for himself, in partnership with Mr. Paul Jagode, 
who had been a member of the firm of Gregg Brothers. 
The new- firm was established in Ma}-, 1885, under the 
name of Jagode & Lewis, at Nos. i 17 and i ly Chestnut 
Street, where it is still located. Plere an extensive busi- 
ness is done in the handling of w-ool on commission. 
The firm belongs tc} the Trades' League of Philadeljjhia 
and to the Bourse. Mr. Lewis is unmarried, and is an 
active and energetic business man, giving most of his 
time antl attention to the details of his growing trade. 



MAKERS OF PniLADELPIIIA. 



281 



WILLIAM SHIPPHK. JR., M.I). 

rill'. Shippcns iicciipird .1 \ i_r\' |iri)miiicnt pLict: in ihc 
medical fratcniit)- of I'hihidclplii.i diiriiiL; the last cciitur)-, 
there bcini; two of them, i'atlur ,ind son. both of umisual 
.skill and high reputation. William .Shijipea the elder 
was horn in Philadelphia in 1712, and probabh' stiidied 
medicine under one of the doctors who came o\'er with 
William Penn. He was lont;- a leadin,^ physician, but 
was honest enough to sa\' to a fi'iend who complimented 
him on his success in curing patients, " Natmx- does a 
great deal, and the gra\-e co\ers up our mistakes." He 
was the first phx'sician of the Penns_\-|\-,mia Hospital, was 
a founder antl trustee of the College <:ii New Jerse)', 
vice-president of the .American I'hilnsi ijihical Society, a 
member of the Continental Congress from 177S to 17S0, 
and one of the founders of the First Presbyterian Church, 
of which he was a member f)r se\ent)- )-ears. He died 
in I. So I. 

Dr. William Shippen the \'ounger, his son, was born 
in Philadeli)hia in I7.i5. and gr.uluated at Princeton 
College in 1754. His father was determined that he 
should ha\-e the advantages of stud\- of which he him- 
self had been depri\ed, and, after four )-ears' study in his 
own office, sent him abroati to stud)' at L<Tndon and 
Edinburgh. The }'oung man had dc\-eloped an unusual 
talent for iirati_>rv. and many of his trien<ls wi>hed him to 
study for the ministry, but he chose his father's protes- 
sion in preference. In London he studied anatomy antl 
surger_\- untler the celebrateil John antl William Hunter, 
in whose family he lived, aiul attendetl ])r. IMcKenzie's 
lectures on obstetrics. Proceeding to I'^linburgh, he 
entered the celebrated medical college of that city, 
from which he gratluateil in I7(')i,an(.l afterwartis spent 
a \-ear in study in Paris. lie retuine<l to Philadeliihia 
in 1762. 

In the autumn of I7ri2 he Ijegan the first course of 
anatomical lectures e\er deli\ered in .\merica. The first 
lecture in this course was gi\'en in the State House, Phil- 
adelphia, to a class of twelve. It may be looked upon 
as the beginning of the celebrated Meilical College of 
Philadelphia. In P".urope, Di'. .Shippen had made the 
acc|uaintance of Dr. John .Morgan, another \-oung Phila- 
dclphian, and the two had talked o\er the possibility of 
establishing an institution in this cit\- fir instruction in 
the medical art. On the return iif Dr. Morgan the two 
friends co-operated in this purpose. Dr. Morgan had 




concei\eil the pl.ui nt a medical college for the separate 
teaching ofphvsics.surger)-, and pharmac}', three branches 
which hati been combined in previous practice, but which 
he at once began to separate in his own practice. He 
proposed his plan to the trustees of the College of Phil- 
adelphia, and it w,is at once adopted, he being elected 
Professor of the Theoiy and Practice of Medicine, the 
first medical professorship in this countr_\-. Dr. Shippen 
immetliatel)- sent in an application (dated .September 12, 
1765) for the professorship of an.itonn- and surger\- in 
the new medical college, and was ajjpointed. .\ week 
after he announced, for the ensuing season, a course of 
lectures on anatonn- and materia medica. 

Dr. William .Smith, the provost of the college, united 
with the two _\dung physicians in organizing the medical 
department on a broad foundation, the original retpiire- 
ment to graduation being that the stutlent should attend 
at least one couise in " anatoni}-, materia medica, chem- 
istr}-, the theory and [jraclice of physic, anil the cour.se 
of chemical lectures, and shall attend the practice of the 
PennsyKania IIospit<d at le.ist one _\-ear." 

Dr. Shi])])en long continued in the professorship of 
anatomy and surgery in the college, and in 1776 entered 
the medical de])artment of the army, being its director- 
general from .April, 1777, to January, 1781. He subse- 
quently practised as a ph)-sician and accoucheur-surgeon 
till 1798. He died at Gcrmantown, Jul\- 1 1, 1808. 



-,6 



28; 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




H(JRAT10 N. BURROUGHS. 

HdRATio Nelson Hl'kkol'iihs, for nian\' \x'ars a promi- 
nent member of the mercantile comnnmity in the city of 
Piiiiadelphia, was born at Washington's Crossing, New 
Jerse\', on June 28, 181 2. His education was i_)btained 
at Pennington Acadeni)-, New Jersey, and his business 
hfe began in 1828, when sixteen \-ears of age, in the 
general store of Mahlun K. Taylor, at Ta\'lors\ ille, Bucks 
County, Penns)-l\ania. He remained in this establish- 
ment only six months, ami then came to Philadelphia in 
search of employment. This he obtained in the store of 
Is.iiah v. WilluimsDn, the late eminent philanthropist, a 
sketch of whose notable career we have elsewhere given. 
Mr. Burroughs entered this establishment as a clerk, and 
remained in it for fi\e years, as an acti\'e and highl}' useful 
assistant to Mr. Williamson, who showed his apjjreciation 
of the valuable ser\'ices of his clerk b\- taking him into 
jiartnership at the entl of that time. He continued in the 
firm until 1837, at which date Mr. Williamson retired, 
having acquired what at that time was esteemed a con- 
siderable fortune, but which he w as to add to enormousl\- 
during the remaining years of his life. 

After the retirement of Mr. Williamson, a new partner- 
ship was formed, imder the firm name of Williamson, 
Burroughs li: Co., Mr. Willianison being a special partner. 
This firm continued in active and profitable business until 
1849, when Mr. Burroughs, ha\'ing, like his former partner, 
ac(|uired a satisfactor\' competence, follow ed his example 
b\- retiring from business. .Since that time he has occu- 
pied \-arious positions of trust and responsibilit}-, in which 
his business judgment antl experience have stood him in 



good stead, antl, while taking no active part in politics or 
entering into an}' official positions, he has been interested 
in the well-being and progress of the municipal concerns 
of the city. 

Mr. ]5urroughs was a merchant by instinct. He knew, 
apparently from intuition, not onl\- what goods to buy 
for profitable sale, but also what amount of goods the 
market would tcdce ; and he was the first merchant in 
Philadelphi.i tn cast aside the custom of long credits to 
buyers and inaugurate the present practice — which at 
th.it time was considered a most venturesome experi- 
ment — of small profits on cash sales. In the panic of 
1837, when other dry-goods houses failed on all sides of 
him, from being unable tn collect accounts which had 
months still to run, Mr. Burroughs's firm was in comfort- 
able condition, with no extended credits and with goods 
on hand in sufficient cjuantities to enable them to reap the 
benefit of cash sales on small margins of profit. This 
brciught a\'ailable funds w ith which to purchase additional 
stock when his c(_impetitors were imable to buy goods 
u|:)on credit at ail)- jirice. At this da\' the effect of this 
innovation in settled habits of business cannot be realized, 
since it is difficult for the present generation to conceive 
of an_\' other coiu'se being followed. It was, however, 
a common sa}-ing upon Market Street, sixty years ago, 
that " Burroughs must fail to-morrow." Instead of tliis, 
his competitors who made the remark, almost, without 
exception, passed into insohency in that \-ear of disaster, 
while Mr. ]?iirroughs laid the foundation of !\Ir. William 
son's large fortune. He had in atldition to this the e\en 
rarer ficult)- of knowing when to stop, and accordingi\- 
lie retired from the wliolesale dr\--goods business upon a 
moderate competence, to employ his mone}' and thoughts 
in directions which ha\'e brought him ease and comfort 
during the remainder of his long life. 

In 1872 he became President of the Commonwealth 
National ]5,uik, and remained in this responsible position 
for se\enteen }'ears, resigning from it in 1889. The other 
positions w hich he has held, and most of which he con- 
tinues to fill, are those of President of the Butler Coal 
Compan}', manager of the Girard Life and Trust Company, 
and director of the Seventh National Bank. He is also 
a director in several other coal companies, and is finan- 
cialh" interested in a considerable number of associations. 
Mr. Burroughs is an ad\'ocate of the development of 
the artistic taste of our citizens, and is a member of 
the Fairmount Park Art Association, whose active 
labors in this direction have been so useful, and which 
promises to do so much for the development of the 
public taste. 



MAKF.RS OF PHJLADRI.PHIA. 



283 



CHARI.HS F. ABBOT. 

Charles FkedI'.kick Ai;i;Mr, mtiiibcr of the Board of 
lulucation of Philadelphia, was horn in Boston, April 5, 
IiSji, received his c(hicati(iii in the public schools of 
that cit)-, and afterw aids undei' private tutors. Mis ances- 
tors hatl lon;^ residetl in Boston, his grandfather being 
the captain of a packet in the Bost<in and Li\'erpool trade, 
antl being lost at sea. At the age of se\enteen, Mr. Ab- 
l)ot entered a niei'cantile lioiise in Kichniond, \'irginia, 
and was afterwards similarly engaged in Newburgh and 
lUiff.do, New York, the line of business being the shoe 
and leather trade. In Janu.iry, iS45,he reniox'ed to Phil- 
adelphia, which cit_\- has since- then been his home. He, 
with his brijther, became interested in the manufacture 
of cotton goods at Alanavunk and Paiiaiiount, and con- 
tinued in this business foi' f >ur yeais, when he withdrew 
to tle\'Ote himself to real est.itc and building operations, 
which he has since continued, lb- m.irried, in 1848, the 
ohlest daughter of Griffith lAans, a w ell-km iwn Philadel- 
phia merchant, and has three childien lixing, twii sons 
and a danghter, all married, the oldest son being a prac- 
tising ph\-sician at Br\-n Maw r. 

Mr. Abbot actjuired a ccjiisidcrable tr.ict of ground 
in the vicinity of the h'alls of Sclui_\-lkill and in the 
western part of Gcrmantown, and has built and sold a 
large number of houses. The new Queen Lane Reser- 
\-oir occupies fourteen acres of his I.mded propcrt}-, and 
he still holds abciut twent\--si.\ aci'es in the \icinity of 
Trails of .Schuxdkill, where he tlwells in an historic mansion 
built befire the Revolution, and garriscuied by Hessian 
soldiers timing the Biitish occup.mcy of I'hil.idelphia. 
T"he old house is now nearlj- surrountled .md coxered b)' 
additions, but its evidences of antiquity h<i\e been care- 
fully [ireserved. 

In 1858 Mr. Abbot was elected on the Republican 
ticket to the Pennssdvania Legislature, of which he con- 
tinued a member until i8()2. His peiiod of legislative 
sen-ice was a critical one in the history of the Penns\-1- 
vania Railroad, which was seeking to reidace ii_\- a con- 
tinuous line of rail the earlier fragmentar)- combination 
of St<ite lines anil canals. Its efforts were strongl)- 
opposed by the Board of Canal Commissioners, and en- 
countered much hostility in the western part of the State. 
The trade ficilities offered to the entire- western and 
north-western counties of the State by the Baltimore and 
Ohio and the New York and l'"rie Railroads had diverted 
the commercial intercourse of these sections and largeh' 
alienated them from Philadelphia and the eastern por- 
tions of the State The principal check to the develop- 
ment of the Penns_\-lv.mia Railroad was the tonnage 
tax, assessed on the road f n' the benefit of the State 
inipro\-ements, and which put it at a disadvantage in 




Competing with its rix.ds. .\ bill w,is inti'oduced into 
the Legislatuie of i8r)[ to commute this per[)etual tax 
into one tint would expire in l8()0. This .-ict, which 
was warmly supported be Mr. .\bljot, was cai'i'ied. In 
the f>llciwing year a \igorous elfort was made b)' the 
opponents of the mad to ha\e this act re])ealed. TTic 
bill was conlided to Mr. Al)bot, who supported it b\- a 
telling speech, based on the ple.i that the act was at once 
constitution, il. justifiable, and for the best intei'ests of the 
.State. He succeetled in sustaining it, and thus became 
an efficient moving force in the subseiiuent developnunt 
of the great road which has done so much alike for the 
State and its lea(.ling cities. The great ser\'ice he did the 
city of Philaileli)hia in secm-ing it this higlily valuable 
railroad conm-ction fully entitles Mr. .\bbot to be classed 
with the " Makers of Philadel[)hia," as also tloes his long 
service in the Board of I'xlucation, yet to be mentioned. 

During the e.irl}- _\-ears of the war Mr. .Abbot sei'xed 
in the Committee on Federal Relations, and was one of 
the commissioners a])pointed to inquire into the alleged 
frauds incident. d to the furnishing sup|)lies to the army. 
Me served llu; govei-nment both at home and as a \-ol- 
unteer in the Thiity-third Penns\-1\ ,uiia Regiment, with 
which he saw s(^me active service. 

In ,\piil. 186^, Ik- was appointt-d a member of the 
Board of Public Lducation, oi-| which he still I'eniains, 
;uid as a member of which he has taken an activ-e part in 
the introduction of the im[)roved courses of studv, draw- 
ing, etc., which have so greatly added to the efficiency 
of our schools. Since 1853 he has been a meml:)er of 
the Board of Directoi's of the An-ierican Baptist Publica- 
tion Society, and for ten or twelve years was one of the 
trustees of the Universitv of Lewisburg, Pennsvdvania. 



284 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




\ 



LFAVIS 0. X'AIL. 

Lkwis \). \'aii,, lawyer, was b(ini at Stn.iiulsbury^ 
Moiirdc Count)-, PcnnsyKania, March 17, 1S32. Mr. 
Vail is, on his father's side, of Knt^dish descent, his ances- 
tors settling in the pro\'ince of New York in the middle 
of the seventeenth centur_\-. I lis i;reat-t,freat-grandfather, 
John \'ail, mo\ed from New \'oi-k to Northern New- 
Jersey in l6(j8, where he was a noted preacher in the 
Societ\- of h'riends, and died in 1774. ( 'ne of his ances- 
tors in the paternal line, a woman, came to Philadelphia 
in the )-ear precedini^ the arrixal of William Penn,antl, in 
comnion with tlie first comers. li\-ed in a ca\-e exca\-ated 
in tile river bank luitil a house was built. .She afterwards 
married and resided in New lei'se)-. His fatlier. Dr. 
Cliarles X'ail, can-ie from Morris Comity, New- Jcrse\-, to 
Stroudsburi;-, where lie practised medicine for man)- )-ears, 
and ilied in 1836. 

I lis mother, Rachel DePui Stroud, was descended from 
the DePuis, a faniil)- of French Huijuenots who came to 
this countr)- about i66j, in wliich )-ear a plantation on 
Staten Island w-as tjranted to Nicholas DePui. \\"liile 
in the Netherlands, Nicholas DePui married Winifred 
Rose, of Holland. The fcUiiil)- afterwards settled at 
Shawnee, on the Delaware Ri\er, ;i few miles above the 
Water Gap, where tlie old famil)- mansion still remains. 
When the sur\-eyors of the Pemi famil)- reached this 
point, tliey found DePui in possession, knowing nothing 
about William Penn, but holding his lands b)- Indian 
grants. He afterwards obtained patents from the pro- 
prietors, under which patents the estate is still held. The 
Strouds, \\itii whom the DePuis intermarried, were of 
English descent. Sir Willi,-im Stroud was a member of 
Parliament, antl in 1642 was, with P)-m, Hampden, Hol- 



lis, and Hazeling, accused of treason by Charles I. The 
Parliament refused to surrender them, and the cit)- of 
London defendetl them b)- arms. Colonel Jacob Stroud, 
Mr. Wail's great-grandfather, was a soldier of the last cen- 
turj'. He fought in tlie French and Indian W^ar, and at 
Quebec assisted in carrying the mortall)- wnuiukxl Gene- 
ral Wolf from the fieltl. He fought also in the Re\-o- 
lutionar)- W,ii-, serxetl as a member of the Colonial 
Legislature in \~'(\ and took part in the formation of 
the first constitution of Penn.syl\-ania in the same year. 
He was tlie founder of Stroudsburg, in whose vicinity he 
acquired a large landed estate. One of his descendant-s 
was the late judge Strouil, of the Distiict Couit of 
Philadelphia. The DePuis and Stroutls intermarrietl 
with the Macdonald faniil)-, sturdy noted Scotch-Irish 
people. 

Mr. Vail studied as freshman and sopliomore at Lafa- 
yette College, Easton, Penns)'Ivania, and then went to 
Princeton College, w-here he graduated in 1 85 I. In the 
winter of tiiat )-ear he taught the district school at Shaw- 
nee, Penns)-l\-ania, and in the .spring of 1S52 took charge 
of the Stroutlsburg Academy. He continued there till 
1856, being occu[)ied in 1854 in reorganizing and re- 
grading tlie public schools of Stroudsburg. F^arl)' in 
1856 he came to Philadelphia, where he entered the office 



if Richard C. McMurtrie for the stud\- of 



He 



w-as admitted in 1858 to practice at the Philadelphia 
bar, where he rapidl)- rose to prominence, and has ever 
since maintained an honorable and elevated position. 
His standing before the courts can be estimated from 
the following testimony given b)- the Philadelphia judges 
in 1888, when Mr. Vail had been named as a candidate 
for the [position of Associate Law Judge of Lackawanna 
Count)- : 

" Mr. Vail has for man)- years been an active and [ironii- 
nent member of the legal profession of this cit)-, w lu-ise 
abihty and learning, as well as his fidelity to the Bench 
and to his clients, have comniended him to the confidence 
of e\-er)- one, and lia\-e gained for him the fullest confi- 
dence of the Bench of this cit)-." 

On the formation of the Law- and Order Societ)-, an 
association to enforce the laws relating to the liipior 
traffic in this cit)-, Mr. \'ail was chosen its attorney, and 
has since acted in that capacit)-. He is regarded as an 
authority in the interpretation of the liquor laws. He 
was a member of the Democratic part)- till 18S4, when 
he joined the Prohibition party, to w-hicli he still adheres. 
He married in i860 a daughter of the Hon. George M. 
Stroud, and has a famil)' of seven sons and two li\ ing 
daughters. He resides in Germantown, where he takes 
an active part in church and Sunday-school matters, being 
a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church. 



MAKERS OF PIIILADFJ.PIIIA. 



?85 



FRANKLIN M. HARRIS. 

I'kankijx '\\. ][akuis was hmii in rhil,i(li.li)hi.i, ] )c- 
ccniber 25, iS:;(> His patcinal aiiccsturs were amnng- 
the early settlers of 1 )el.i\varc, ami his maternal fore- 
fathers were pioneer woollen nianufactiners of German- 
town. 

Mr. Harris's grcat-i^rantlfither was a soldier i>f the 
Revolution, and was with \\'ashini;l< m in tlie smiw-bound 
cam[) at Valle\' l'"or,L;e. W'hei-e he suflered all the hard- 
shijis incident to that historic campaii^n. Joseph Harris, 
his ynmdfather, was a soldier in the War of 1S12. He 
was also for man\' \ears one of the cummissioiiers ot the 
(lid district of Mo_\-amensinL;, and w.is (iiie ot the first of 
the family to adopt the building; trade. He constructed 
Peale's IMuseum, and achieved an en\iable reputation as 
a builder of fine residences. 

Mr. Harris's father w.is ,dso a builder, and noted for 
eneri^y and marked capabilities in his pi'ofession. He 
was not destined, h<)we\er, to rccdi/.e the full expectations 
that were entertained for him, fir, while e.xecutioLj a large 
contract at Galveston, Texas, he was stricken with yellow 
fe\-er, and died before he had reached his twent_\--second 
)'car. This carl\^ loss was a great deiirivatii m to the 
subject of this sketch, but it had the effect of testing the 
mettle of which he was m.ule, and nf im|)i-essing upon 
him a sense (.if his resjxinsibilities ,it an cirlier age than 
it is wont to come to most children, .\lter recei\ing a 
public school education, he was imlentined to James W. 
Howard, a mason builder, with whom he ser\-etl an ap- 
prenticeship of over seven \-ears. ( )n reaching maturit}- 
he was made his eniplo)'er's superintemJent. 

His promise of a bright business future, however, was 
soon clouiled b}- the mitbreak of the Civil War, into 
which he entered with the like patriotic energ\' which 
had animated several of his ancestors. Immediateh- after 
the attack on Fort .Siniitei' he pnimptU' responded to 
the call for troops, and enlisted in the lughtecnth Regi- 
ment Penns)-lvaiiia Volunteers, into which he was mus- 
tered April 24, 1S61, and prdceeded to Baltimore fir 
three months' service. ( )n August 15 he enlisted tor 
three \-ears in the Xinety-fifth Regiment Pennsylvania 
\'olunteers, known as (ioslin's Zouaves. With this regi- 
ment he participated in the battles df West Point, Gaines's 
Mills, .Savage .Station, White ( )ak Swamp, second Bull 
Rini, Chantilh', I*"redericksburg, P^'anklin's Crossing, 
Chancellorsxille, Marye's 1 leights, Salem 1 leights. Gettys- 
burg, Rappahannock Station, Mine Rim, and ninnerous 
skirmishes. He was promoted from time to time until 
November 14, iS6j, when he became first lieutenant. 

Until the second battle of Bull Run, Lieutenant Harris 
had been in excellent health, but after that his strength 
gave wa\-, and in the spring of 1864, Colonel Carrell, his 
commander, sent him home for light duly at Camp Cad- 
vv.ilader, where he remained until honiii-,ibl\- discharged. 




After the w.ir he resumed his business relations with Mr. 
Howard, tnrming a ciipartnei'ship under the name of 
James W. llow.ird is; Co., which continued until 1SS5, 
when lie withdrew ,nid engaged in business by him.self. 
In iSSi) he firmed the [jresent firm of Fr.anklin M. Harris 
& Co., and the}- h.ive been engagetl in the constructiim of 
sonic of the l.irgest buildings in <ind about Philadelphia. 

In I.S8<), at the suggestion of e.x-Mayor Stokle\' and 
othei- residents of the new Thirt_\--second Ward, Mr. 
Harris stmid as the Rei)ublic.ui candid. ite fir .Select 
Council, and was electetl. 1 le vv.is the first re|)resentativc 
of the new ward in the upper chamber, antl has since 
been re-elected. He has been honoi'eil w ith apjiointment 
to important committees, including the chairmanship of 
the P^lectrical Committee two years ago, and of the 
Committee on Railro.uls in 1 893-94. His .services have 
been of great value to the city, and specially to his ward. 

Mr. Harris has held no other public office, though he 
is interested as an olTici.d in numerous companies and 
business concerns. He is president of the Master 
Builders' P'.xchange, a powerful organization which rep- 
resents the building interests of Philadelphia. He is 
also a leading member of the Brickla_vers' Companv, 
which, next to the Carjienters' Comp.uiv, is the oldest 
trade organization in the citv. 

In a social wav .Mr. Il.irris is widely known, being a 
po]Hilar club m,ni and a readv-vvitted after-tlinner speaker. 
He is a member of the Masonic iM-aternity, Otld- Fellows, 
Grantl Army of tiie Reiniblic, Manufacturers' Club, 
Columbia Club, k'ive OCIock Club, Sons of Delaware, 
Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and the Franklin 
Institute. He is also a trustee of tlie Bethlehem Presln-- 
tcrian Church. 1 le resides at i820North Broad Street. 
He has a fine library, in which most of his leisure time 
is spent in i-eading and stud}-. 



2S6 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




l.HHMAN 1'. ASHMHAI). 

l.i-.iiMAX P. AsiiMKAii was Ikmii ill I'lii l.K Icl] )liia, near 
cild St. IVtei's Cluircli, lliiid ami I'iiic Streets. Hi.s 
anccstcHs were men ul strnnL; bndies and \iL;(irons minds, 
ami pa.s.sed their li\-es in nsefnl activit)-. 1 le inherits the 
sti-()n;j; famil)- constitntinn. John .Ashmead, the pinneer 
of the famil}-, came fmni Cheltenham, I'',nL;Iand, in 1682, 
setthiiL;' at (iermantiiwn, ,1 few months before the arrival 
of Willi, im Teiin. Ki:>th ]\Ir. Ashme.id's L;reat-L;rantl- 
filhers were Revolutionar)' officers, — Captain John Ash- 
mead, a niited seaman who m.ide one lunulred \(iyaL;es 
to all p.iits of the World between tile _\e,irs 175S-S0, and 
in 1779 commanded the Congress na\y ImIl; " l"..iL;ie," of 
ten L;nns, and .succcssfiill}- landeil on the Delaware, from 
the West Inilies, a cargo of much neetled gunpowder to 
supply the Continental troops ; and Surgeon ( ieorge Leh- 
man, who was with the ami)' at Valley ForgL- ; both were 
subse(|uently captuj-ed at sea and contnied in I.)aitiiioor 
Prison, I'jigl.uul. 

1 Ik- subject ot this sketch was under priwatc instruction 
until the age of foui-teeii _\-e,n-s, .md then took a position 
ni the old .\merican .Sunday-School L'iii(in, I'hil.idelphia, 
where he remained two \-ears, when he was transferred 
to niort; responsible duties with the old PJiila., W'ilm., and 
Halt. R.R. Co., of which his brother, the kite W. L. Ash- 
mead, was superintendent. 

October 19, 1841, Presitleiit Tyler appointed him mid- 
sjiipm.in in the United States na\y, was six niontlis on 
the 74-gun ship •■ North Carolin.i" at New York, and then 
to tile frigate "Congress" (on which ship the late Admiral 
Porter was junior lieutenant) on her first three \'ears' 
cruise to the ^lediten-anean and ISiazil stations. In 
August, 1843, lie made ,1 \isit to Jerusalem and the 
Moly Land, at a period when tr.uel in that section was 
attended with great peril. lie continued in the " Con- 



gress" till the end of her cruise, and subscquenth- was 
attached to the U. S. steamer " Princeton" and frigate 
" Cumberlaiul." While in the ser\ice, his record was 
of the higlicst grade, bi 1846 he minied, in New Bed- 
ford, Massachusetts, the oill_\- daughter of James H. 
Howland, \\-liose lineal ancestor was a Pilgrim of the 
"Mayllower" in 1620, who outlived all tlie other Pilgrims 
lantling finni that fmioiis \-essel. Mr. Ashmeatl reside<J 
in New J5e<lford about fifteen years, liaving resigned hon- 
orably from the navw He engaged largely in whaling 
and de\eloping enterprises, was a member of Cit\' Coun- 
cils and prominent in the front ranks of the citizens of 
that place. At the outbreak of the Ci\'il War, he went 
to West \'irginia to take possession of a \aluable coal 
propert)- in which he was interested with otiier Northern 
owners, shipping coal down tiie ri\'er to Southern cities. 
Here, altliougli surrounded b_\- (.lisloyal men wIk) were 
his person.il hieiids, his ]),itriotism was not in the least 
affected, their iniluence failing to swer\-e him from his 
sense of dut)- in the cause of the Union. He escaped 
mail)' risks of his life and confinement in Libb\' I'rison. 
He could ha\-e resumed his position in tlie nav\', and 
did offer his serxices, but his personal attention was im- 
perative!}' ilemanileil in efforts to protect the property. 
When in I'hiladelphia in 1862, he was acti\e in organizing 
a three }'ears' regiment for the war, volunteering himself, 
and marched in the ranks of the Gray Reserves to tlie 
battle-ground of .\iitiet,im. His two sons at tlie Penn- 
s\-lvania Military Acadenu' — 14 and 16 years of age — 
also went witli the ]-5attery when General Stuart invaded 
Carlisle. His eldest bo_\' subsetjuentl)' enlisted in a three 
years' regiment. At the close of tlie war, Mr. Ashmead 
went to Virginia anil organized tlie Richmond Granite 
Co., em[)loying a large number of men, aiul making the 
first introiluctic)n of \'irginia granite to the Pliiladelphia 
mark'et. 'Hie pedestal of the marble statue of Washing- 
ton in front of Independence Hall he had cut and finished 
at the (juarries by Virginia stone-dressers (ex-Confeder- 
ate sokliers). In 1868, President Johnson appointed him 
Naval Officer of I'hikulelphia, but the Senate during that 
Congress failed tc) conluni any of the 1^'esident's appoint- 
ments. Mr. Ashmead x\as one of the earnest, constant 
members of the Llxecutive Committee of the first Citi- 
zens' Municipal Reform Association of Philadelphia, and 
out of which grew the Committee of One Hundred, since 
carr_\'ing on the work of reform. 

In 1888 he took an actix'e part in ha\ing establisheil 
a Refuge Station for shipwrecked whalemen at Point 
Barrow, Arctic Ocean. It is a trait of Mr. ^Ashmead to 
be prominent in all he undertakes, not for applause, but 
rather from an innate |)ositi\-e force of character. Pos- 
sessing a firm spirit, with genial, amiable disposition, he 
merits and has the esteem and confidence of his many 
friends both at home and abroad. 



MAKERS OF PIIIJ.ADFJJ'IIJA. 



287 



JOSEPH PENKOSR ASH. 

Cai'Iain J(isi:i'1i PexkosI'-. A>h, of tlu- I^'ifih I'nitctl 
States Regular C'awilr}-, was a iiatixe nf Phil,iilel])hia, 
being born in this cit_\-, July 4, \'^y). He was the only 
son of Caleb L. Ash anil Inlla Maria Ashniead. ami a 
nei>lu'\\ of Lehman 1'. Ashiucail. whuse hiogiapli)' we 
haw elsewhere given. Cipt.iin A^h was ethie.itetl in 
Philadelphia, and held a iispon^ihle liusiness pl)^ilil)n in 
this eity at the oiithreals nf the ('\\\\ War. Put the eelio 
of the tlrst shot l'ire(l on port Sunitci' ])ut an end to his 
business eareer. He was, and h.id been Inim his se\en- 
teeiith ye.ir. a member of the P'irst (/it)' IVoup of Phila- 
delphia, anil now, niowd by the [)atiiolie fer\dr and 
soldiei'l)' s[)irit whieh distinguished the remaintler ot his 
career, left his business and hastened to W'.ishington, 
wheie he enlisted and was m.ide hrst lieutenant, X\)\\\ 
18, iS()i, in the battalion I'.iised l)\' I'.issius AI. Clay to 
defeiKl the eapital cit_\-. He innnedi.iteU- \-olunteered to 
make a reconnoissance aei'oss the Potomae and within 
the enem)-'s lines, which, permissinn being granted him, 
he successfully accomplislicd, encmmtering great danger 
in the perilous enlei-prise. P'or this daring and useful 
ser\"ice President Lincoln at once conniiissioued him 
second lieutenant in the regular ami)-, bearing date, 
April 30, 1861, and the regiment, the P^ifth United States 
Ca\'alry. 

His subsequent career was one of conspicuous bravery, 
which won for him the highest encomiums of his com- 
manding officers, antl led him at length to an honoi'able 
and glorious death at the head ol hi-. lroo[)s. The bare 
outline of his career may be briell_\- given. The details 
wi.iuld fill a \olume. flis soldierly d.uing l.)rought him 
step by stej) of promotion to first lieutenant. JanUcU')- 6, 
1862, and captain, September 5, 1863, while he recei\-ed 
several grades of brevet rank as rewartls of honiir. He 
was biexettetl major " fir conspicuous gall,uitr\' in battle 
at Warrenton, Virginia, November 8, i8f>j," where he was 
severely wounded (three sabre-cuts and a bullet), and 
lieutenant-colonel "for conspicucius gcdlantry in battle at 
Spott.sylvania, May 8, 1864." In this severel\--contested 
battle he fell at the head of his tioop, in the twenty- 
f iinlh \'ear of his age. His bod}' was bulled between 
two apple-trees near the spnt where he fell. It was not 
till the close of the war that his fxuly lould be removed 
from this soldier's grave. It was reinteiied on Ma_v 15, 
1865, in the buried lot of his uncle, L. P. .\shmead, at St. 
James-the-Less church\-ard, Philadelphia. At rest 'neath 
the sound of the \esper bells he so loved to hear. 

General McClellan records that the fight in which 
Cajjtain Ash led his troops at Warrenton, November 8, 
1862, was the first hand-to-hand conflict of the war. 
The late General Custei', who was first lieutenant in the 
P'ifth Cavalrv- when Ash was promoted to captain, made 




the reni.uk that he (Custer) had the name of being one 
of the most reckless, dashing, figllting officers in the 
caviilrv, Init th.it .\sh vvduld outstrip him everv time in a 
charge. A similar testimonial is given in the biographv' 
(chapter twentieth) of General .Stuart, the Confetierate 
cavalrv- leader. It states that some time after the battle 
of .Spottsylvani.i, a sergeant of the ]'"ifth Cavalry, who 
had served uniler P'it/, Lee in the oki armv", was captured 
and brought into his presence. Dmang the conversation, 
P'itz Lee asked the prisoner " why the ( )ld Ritles (the 
P'ifth) did not stand up to then- work better than thev- had 
done receiitlv-, and the sergeant rei)lied that since Captain 
.\sh w.rs killed thev- h.uln't anv' one to leail them in a 
charge as he did. " 

" General W'eslev Merritt, Lk.S.A., relates ;m incident 
of daring braverv in P'ebruary, 1864, in which Captain 
Ash, in a bold efloit to discover the f nee of the enen-|)- 
behind their lines on the Rapidan, dashed at fidl speed 
along the front of their entrei-ichnients unharmed through 
a shower of bullets, until the enen-iy. in admiration of his 
intre]iid courage, ceased firing, and mounted to the top 
of their breastworks, where thev- filled the air with their 
cheers. Captain Ash reinetl up his horse, raised his hat 
with a graceful salute to the cheering Coiifeilerates, and 
rode leisurel}- back to his own lines amid the plaudits of 
friends and fies. In uniting with the Conteder.ites' cheers 
for the bold rider, oui- iR-.irts went out to the generous 
foe who apiireeiated the gallant act. We we're then im- 
pressed — and who has not been — with the fact, that, 
whethei- wealing tlu' blue or the grav, the true American 
soldier is a worth}- descendant of the men who made 
glorious the history of ehivalrv'. I thought then, and 
still think, it was the bravest deed on the part of an 
individual that I ever witnessed."' 



288 



AUKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




J. EDWARD ADDICKS. 

]iiiiN ICinvAKD AnniCKs, Prcsitk-nt of the l^oston Gas- 
LiLjht Compaii}-, was born in Philadelphia, Noxcmbcr 
21, 1841, son of John E. (J'S. ,ind Mari;"arct McLeod 
Turner Addieks. He is a lineal descendant of Donal 
( )'Sulli\an Beare, of Dunboy Castle, Ci unity Cork, Ire- 
l.md, who w.is cliief of Heare ami li.mtry, and leader of 
the Minister forces in the leliLjidUs wax \\aL;ed in Ireland 
aLjainst ( Hieen l^lizabeth, and wlin died h-irl <>t Bear- 
hawn, in 1(^104. at the aL;e <if fift)--se\en, in Si)ain. 
Aihoiil; his ilesceiidants may be nanieil ( )\\en ( )'.Sul- 
li\an, born in Limerick in iCiyJ, antl father of Major- 
(ieneral John and Goxernor James .Sulli\an, of Revo- 
lutionar_\- fame. Another descendant was Major Tiiomas 
Herbert ( )'Sulli\an Heare, of ]iearha\ lii, Ireland, whose 
dauL;hter, Barbara ( )'Sulli\-an, became a l'hiladeli)hian, 
and married in that city John Kdward Charles Atldicks, 
Cierman consul to rhilailelphi.i. This l.uly was of note 
in lier da}-, was a personal friend of Jnlin Maishall and 
Daniel Webster, and wrote, with other works, a series of 
essa\'s on " lulucation treatetl as a Natiu'al Science," the 
first of which was read at the ki'anklin Institute in 
Jaiuiar)-, 1831. Her son, |olin V.. ( )'S. Ad(.licks, was 
the father of the subject of our sketch, whose full name 
— which, however, he uses only anion;,; his books — is 
John lulwa.rtl Charles ( )'Sulli\an .Vddicks. He wears 
the ancient family riny-, cut with the arms of O'Sullivan 
Beare. 

His great-great-^randmotlier on liis mother's side was 
Lady Arabella Galbraith, of Scotland, who incurred her 
father's displeasure by marryiuL;- an untitled L;entleman, 
a Mr. McNeilus. The\' came to this countr\^ and settled 



in rhiladelj)hia, where Mi'. Addicks's motlier, Martjaret 
McLeod Turner, was born. 

Mr. Addieks was educated in the public schools of 
Philadelphia, enterini; the Hii;!! School number one of 
his class, and Liratluatiny; when fifteen years old. He 
began his business life in a wholesale dry-goods house, 
where he remained till nineteen \'ears of age, when he 
entered the tlour store nf Levi Knowles. He became a 
partner in this firm on attaining his majorit)-, and dis- 
playctl an energy in developing tlie business which 
brought him great success. Three \'ears later he began 
the flour business on his own account, and pushed it so 
energeticall)' that in time he became the foremost man 
in his line of trade in Philadelphia. He was largel)- in- 
strumental in introducing to the Plastern seaboard the 
spring wheat flours of the Minnesota region. In iSC)4 
he manied Laura Wattson Butcher, daughter of Wash- 
ington and Mary I{. Butcher, of Philadelphia. I le has 
but one cliild, his daughter Plorence. 

Mr. Addieks in time began investing in Phil,ideli)hia 
real estate, and became prominent in this field of opera- 
tion. I'Larl}- in 1S77 he removed his residence to Clay- 
mont, Delaw.ire, one of the suburban residence places 
of Philailelphi,!, where he continues to dwell, though his 
business interests are centred in this city. Sliortly after 
this period his attention was called to the use of water 
gas as an illuminant. ,ui infmt industr_\- at that time, l)ut 
with much promise of a valuable de\'elopment. Mr. 
Addieks entered into this industry with the energ\- which 
has characterized all his career, and has been closel)- 
identified with its recent great progress, while his name 
is widely known throughout tlie L^nited States in con- 
nection therew itli. He built works for the manufacture 
of water gas in Ierse\- Cit}-, and also for the Consumers' 
Gas Compaii}' of Chicago, the latter leading to the for- 
mation of the noted Chicago Gas Trust. In 1SS4 the 
Ba\' State Gas Conipaii)' of Boston was organized, Mr. 
Addieks being its originator and the first to establish 
water-gas works in that cit)-. In 1892 he purchased a 
conti-olling interest in the Brookd_\n Gas Company and 
was electetl its presitlent. He also became, with his 
friends, largely interested in other gas companies of 
Brooklyn, and is still acti\el)- engaged in the develop- 
ment of the water-gas industr\- in that city. 

Mr. Addieks also has built a gas-works in Wilmington, 
Delaware, for the ().\)'hydrogen Company, that compan)- 
being now engaged in confirming its rights before the 
Delaware courts. 

Mr. Addieks is probably, however, better known to the 
people of Delaware b\' reason of his great interest in the 
politics of the .State in behalf of the Republican party. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



289 



JOEI, J. BAll.Y. 

JoEi. J. liAii.v, merchant and reformer, was born at 
London Gro\e, Chester Count)-, Pennsylvania, ( )clober 
29, 1826, his father beinL,^ a ])roniinent ai;riciiltuiist of 
tliat section, and for several j-ears the magistrate of tlie 
townshiji. The son received a good etlucation, and at the 
age of seventeen came to I'hilailelphia, w here he entered 
the house of M. Morris Marple, a dealei' in m^tinns, at 
No. \2 North Second Street. Here he (|uickly g.iined a 
knowletlge of the business, and when only twenty years 
of age bought out his emphjyer ,uul embarked in busi- 
ness on his own accoLint. The business at that time 
was but a small one, but it ra[iidly expanded under his 
energetic and intelligent nian.igement, and in the }-ears 
that followed he was obliged to make several successi\'e 
changes of location to gain room for his steadih'-grow- 
ing traffic. In 1850 he m(.>\ed to No. II North Second 
Street, in 1 8; 2 to No. 69 Market Street, where he closed 
the retail and confined liis business to the wholesale 
trade, and in 1S57 to No. 219 Market Street. Here he 
admitted two of his clerks to partnershii^, and in 1862, 
on another remo\al, to No. 28 North Third Street, took 
a third partner, the firm being now known as Joel J. 
Baily & Co. 

These frequent removals were rendered necessar\- b\- 
the stead}- growth of the business, which b_\- 1S73 had 
again so expanded that he was obliged to ha\e erectetl 
for its accommodation the ku'ge double store, 719-21 
Market Street, in which it luis since been locatetl. The 
panic season of 1873 passed o\'er tlie firm without injury 
to their solidly-based business, and the trade of the house 
has since continued to grow, its amnial sales ha\ing e.\- 
panded from less than $ 10,000 in 1 84S to about §3,000,000 
at the [iresent time. 

During the Civil War, ill-health prevented Mr. Baily 
from taking an_\- active part, but he contributetl fri'el_\- to 
the charities connected with it and aided the authorities 
by every means in his power. He became a member of 
the Union League in 1863, and was electetl one of its 
directors, which post he continues to hold. In the later 
history of the cit\- he was a strong opponent of corrup- 
tion in office, alike in city and State affairs, letting no 
question of partisanship stand in tlie wa>- of his ad\ocacy 
of official honest}-. W'hen, in No\ember, 1880, the Com- 
mittee of One Hundred was formed, he was made its 
treasurer, and took a very active part in tiie collection of 
funds to carr}- out the purposes of the committee. For 
six years he worked actively for the conviction of re- 
peaters, ballot-box stufiers, and other political criminals. 




collecting ku'ge sums to carr}' on tlie work ; and when, 
in ]anu,u}-, 1886, the committee ceased to exist, Mr. 
Bail}- was able to honor every draft and pa}' e\'ery 
bill. 

He was a member of the Ceiiteiini.d Board of Finance, 
but resigned on account of ill-health. In 18S2 he was 
Chairman of the Mnance Committee of the Bi-Centennial 
Celebration of the founding of the cit\'. Most of the 
niiuie}' needed for this was raised b}' his ])er.sonal exer- 
tions, and it was ex]5ended so judiciousK- ami econom- 
icall}' that after the celebration he was able to ])a}' all 
bills and I'etuin the subscribers fift}' per cent, of their 
mone}-. 

In 1886, after the dissolution of the Committee of One 
Huiuh'etl, a new reform organixation, called the Citizens' 
MLUiicipal Association, was formed, its pui-jjose being to 
keep an (wersight o\'er contractors and officials and to 
protect the interests of the cit}' in all public works. Mr. 
Bail}- was elected chairman of this association, an office 
which he .still holds. He is, in addition, a director of 
the Pennsylvania Societ}' for the Protection of Children 
from Cruelty, \"ice-Pi'esident of the Fairniount Park Art 
Association and of the Penn.sylvania Humane Society, a 
member of the Board of Trade, and a director of the 
Delaware Mutual Fire Insurance and the Bell Telephone 
Companies. He is a member of the Lutheran Church 
at Broad and Arch Streets, and a vesti'}'nian of St. 
James's Church at Darb}', where he has his country 
residence. He was married, in 1849, to Miss Susan 
Llo\-d Jones. 



■31 



290 



MAKERS OF rillLADELPHIA. 




CYRUS NEWLIN I^EIRCE, D.D.S. 

CvKL's Nkw'lin I'lciKci': was boin in l>}-bi_iT)-, I'liihulcl- 
pliia, March 5, 1829, his fatlicr, C\'i-us Peircc, bciny f,ir- 
mcrly of Chester CdUiitx', Pennsylvania, and his mother, 
Ruth S. Peirce, of PortsiiKuith, New Hampshire. The 
family descended originally from the Percys of England, 
and were noted for longe\ity, there haxing been more than 
one centenarian among them. Mr. Peircc received his 
preliminary education in the public scliools of Byberry, 
and afterwards worked on his father's farm imtil twenty- 
one years of age, when he resolved to carix- out a long- 
cherished intention of obtaining a more liberal educa- 
tion. P'or this purpose he entered the New York Central 
College, at Cortland, New York, an institution which was 
one of the first to adopt the manual labor s\-stem, offer- 
ing to poor students an opijortunity to support them- 
selves by their own labor while acquiring a collegiate 



education. There was a faiin attached to the college 
for this purpose, on which the ambitious young student 
worked for fourteen months, dixiiling his time between 
labor and study. At the end of this time he was seized 
with a severe attack of typhoid fe\-er, and returned to 
Philadelphia as soon as able to tra\el. 

When convalescent, Mr. Peirce, having decided to pre- 
pare himself foi' the pr<.)fession of dentistry, entered the 
office of P)r. V . M. Dixon as a student, associating med- 
icine with dentistr)' in his studies. He continued here 
for two }'ears, attending lectures at the Pennsyhania 
Dental College, while gaining jiractical experience in Dr. 
Dixon's office. He graduated in 1854, and imniediatel\- 
began the practice of the profession, in which he became 
very successful, attaining, and still holding, an eminent 
position as a dentist. 

In 1858 P)r. Peirce was electeel to the chair of Oper- 
ative Dentistiy and Dental Ph)'sics in the Pennsyh-ania 
College of Dental Surgery, a professorship which he 
retained till 1865, and to which was added in i860 the 
post of dean cif the college. In 1S65 he resigned both 
these positions, and since then has lield no official posi- 
tion other than that of Lecturer on Dental Surgery at 
the Woman's Medical College of Pennsyh-ania, these 
lectures being established as part of the general medical 
course of the institution. 

Dr. Peirce was marrietl, in 1857, to Miss Ch.irlotte 
Woodward, of Aubuin, New York, to whose faithful aid 
and co-operation he attributes much of his success in 
life. P"or man\' \-ears he has taken an acti\e interest in 
general reform and charitable mo\emcnts, both in social 
and religious matters, and for some }'ears has been Pres- 
ident of the Society for I^thical Culture, of Philadelphia. 
He is also much interested in science, and has long been 
a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Phil- 
adelphia, of whose council he is at present a member. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



291 



JOHN FIHLl). 

I(in\ Field, late Postmaster of PhiLulclphia, was 
born in County Dcrr\-, Ireland, in the \-ear 1S34, and 
came to this eiunitry with his family in 184S, when four- 
teen \-ears of ai^e. 1 lis father died im the \-<i\-aL;e, leavinij 
the mother with eiL,dit children, and in \ery straitened 
circumstances. Landing; in I'hil.ulelphia, she was oblis^etl 
to put her older sons at work, John obtainini^ a position 
as office bi i\' with Anins Vount;', founder of the house 
of Young, Sm\-th, h'ield & C(x The boy was bright and 
industrious, and made himself liked by all, from the 
heads of the house to its luuiil)lest emphnx-. He has 
remained connected with this house e\-er since, except 
for a brief pericxl of seixuate business with his brother, 
antl grculualh- rose, through step after step of jiromotion. 
friim (jffice-b<n- to stock-keepei', then to buyer, book- 
keeper, and finall)- to the position of partner in the firm. 
It need scarcely be said that the house is iine of the 
largest in its line of business in this countr_\-, and has 
branch offices in Baltimore, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, 
Bloomington, and San Francisco, and also a house in 
Chemnitz, Saxon}-, for buying and banking piu'poscs. 

There is little to be saitl concerning Mr. Field's con- 
nection with this prosperous and progi'essi\'e business, 
but one instance of his fiiaimess antl integrity nia\' be 
mentioned. (Jn one occ.ision, he was asked b\' a private 
note to come to the Custom House, ami on arriving there 
was met in a private room b)" cert<un " special agents" 
(if the go\-ernment, who claimed that a tlisco\-cry had 
been made that the house, b\- underxaluation of goods, 
had robbed the government of duties amounting to 
S8o,ooo. They agreed to settle the go\ernment claim 
b\- a compromise, but Air. I-"ield strongly denied the 
assertion, declared that the house was ready to meet 
openly all such accusations, and refused to consider the 
question of a compromise. Mr. Young being sent for, 
he sustained his junior partner's decision. The question 
finally came before the Supreme Court of the United 
States for settlement, and the house was triumphantly 
vindicated. The bold stand taken received the com- 
mendation of the government and the praise of his 
fellow-merchants, man\- (.)f wIkuii had been victimized 
by a similar fraudulent scheme. 

Mr. Field became well known to the cit_\' of Philadel- 
phia through his earnest labors in connection with the 
Committee of One Hundretl, in which he served as 
Chairman of the Campaign Committee of Reform Or- 
ganization. It was largel}- due to his practical ability 
and remarkable executis'e ca[)acity that the effort to 
elect to office men of good records was successful in the 
contest for mayor and ta.x recei\er in the spring of 18S1, 
and in the fight for count)' officers in November of the 
same year ; and particularly in the vigorous campaign 
for councilmen in 1882, in which the reform candidates 




for Select and Common Councils were triumphantly 
elected, and those sustained b\- the old party organiza- 
tions defe.ited. He ser\-ed also on the committee of in- 
vestigation of alleged Almshouse frauds, in association 
with George D. McCreary and Rudolph Blankenburg. 
This committee exposed the shameless frauds b)- which 
the ])oor inmates had been robbed of clothing, food, and 
fuel. The committee finished their work by the arrest 
of Major Phipps, the Almshouse superintendent. What 
followed is well known. By the flight of Major Phipp.s 
to Canada, and his trial onl\' for forgerj- on his return, 
the full exposure of the facts was prevented, and the 
culprits who stood behind him escaped. 

Political 1}-, Air. Fiekl has always been an earnest Re- 
publican. His first \'ote was for John C. Fremont for 
President. P^or some time he ser\ed as President of the 
Hibernian Society, and is treasurer of the P'ranklin 
Rcformator\' Home, manager of the Magdalen Societ)% 
trustee of the propert)- of the Young Men's Christian 
Association, director of the Mechanics' National Bank, 
Vice-President of City Trust, Safe Deposit, and Surety 
Conipan)-, and President of the Board of Trustees of the 
Orphanage of the Methodist P^jiscopal Church. 

He had long been a friend of John Wanamaker, 
and when the latter was made Postmaster-General, he 
strongl)- urged Mr. I'ield to accept the post of Post- 
master of Philadelphia. In this request he was .seconded 
by Thomas Uolan and other prominent citizens. Mr. 
Field at first declined, on account of the demands of his 
business, but finallj- accepted, and was appointed October 
29, 1 889. He served in this office through the adminis- 
tration, and man}- of the impro\ed methods now in use 
in the post-office of Philadelphia are due to his business 
ability and active interest in the de\-elopment of the 
. facilities of the institution. 



292 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




EDWARD r. STEHL. 

EnwARn T. Stkel, late President of the Bciard of Edu- 
cation of Piiiladelphia, was boin in tliis cit\', Januan' 6, 
1835, beiiiLj descended from an E"nL:;lisli family belonging 
to tile Society of Friends. He, with his fither, Robert 
Steel, and grandfather, Thomas Steel, were descend- 
ants of settlers who came to Philadelphia in 1683, a 
j'ear after its foiintlation, and one of \\hnm was treas- 
urer of the pro\-ince under the proprietorship of William 
Penn. 

Mr. Steel received his education in piixate schools 
of Pennsylvania and New Jerse\-, and finished at Abing- 
don, Penns\-lvania, leaving school when but fifteen years 
of age. On returning to Philadelphia from ^Abingdon, 
he obtained a position in a wholesale notion house on 
September 9, 1849, "i which he obtained a tiiorough 
training in business, and de\-eIoped those tjualities of 
industry, ajjplication, and commercial abilit}' which were 
the moving elements of his later success in life. His 
period of apprenticeship in l)usiness life was followed by 
an effort in his own behalf, he starting a wholesale cloth 
establishment, in which two of his brothers, Henry M. 
Steel and William G. Steel, .subsequently joined him, 



the firm being entitled Pxlward T. Steel & Co. The 
business of the house, situated at the corner of Sixth 
and Market Streets, rapidly developed under the energy 
and enter|)rise i:)f the associated brothers, until it became 
one of the most active houses of its line in the cit_\', a 
position which it still holds. 

Mr. Steel politicall)- was a Republican, and was one 
of the original advocates of anti-slaver}- at a time when 
outspoken expression of such sentiments exposed those 
holding them to oblocjuy, if not to \iolence. He held 
these \iews on humanitarian, not on political grouiuls, he 
never being an acti\'e politician in the strict .sense of the 
word, although he held ardently and earnestU- to the 
principles of the Republican part\-. and worked ener- 
getically for the election of Abraham Lincoln. He was 
one of the originators of the Mercantile Tariff Club in 
that campaign, and supported the canilitlate more on 
commercial and what he viewed as mmal principles 
than for political ends and aims. 

In 1874 Ml'. Steel was elected a member of the Cen- 
tennial Boartl of l-'inance, and as such labored diligently 
to promote the success of the great Exhibition of 1876. 
In the \'ear following this Exhibition, 1877, he was 
appointed a member of the Board of Education, and in 
1879 ^^'^^ elected president of the Board, a position 
which he continued to fill until the year of his death, 
resigning from it in 1S92. In this position Mr. Steel 
bore iiimself with dignit\- and abilit}-, and was an earnest 
and intelligent mover in de\-eloping the new system of 
education which has transformed the whole management 
of our public schools. The appointment of a general 
superintendent of education, and in particular the obtain- 
ing of the highly valuable services of Dr. McAlister for 
this purpose, was largel\- due to his efforts and apprecia- 
tion of the needs of our school system. Otiier innova- 
tions in the methods of operations were due to him, 
and no man had a fuller share in establishing the pro- 
gressive and effecti\'e system under which the schools 
of Philadelphia are now conducted than Edward T. 
Steel. He died i\ugust 14, 1892, shorth' after his resig- 
nation from the jjosition which he had so long and abl_\' 
filled. 



MAKERS OF PHILADRLPHIA. 



293 



DA\'I1) M. BOYU, JR. 

I). win M. ]i(i\i>, Jr., l.itc General P<isseiiL;'cr Ai;xiit <>f 
the Penns)-l\-ania R.iilroad S_\'.stem, was Ijoni in Indian- 
apolis, Indiana, Nmenibcr 4, 1840. He was educated 
at the Northwestern Christian Univei'sity of Indianapolis, 
and in 1857 began his lailroad career in the office of the 
General Ticket Agent of the BellefijiUaine Railwa\' at 
Indianapolis. 

Soon after the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1S61, 
he entered the United States sei'X'ice as assistant quarter- 
master in charge of the accounts of General J. I'". Btiyd, 
chief quartermaster, antl was attached to ( ieneral Mc- 
Cook's division of the Army of the Cumberlantl. An 
active campaign through Kentuck)-, Tennessee, and 
northern Mississippi, culminating in the battle of Shiloh, 
proved too hard a strain upon hisplu'sical endui-ance, and 
he was obligetl to return home. After recruiting hi.s 
health he again became connected with the Bellefontaine 
Railwa}-, and e\entuall\" had the practical charge of its 
ticket department, where he remained until called to a 
more extendeil sjjhere of irsefulness in connection with : 
the Pennsylvania Railroad. 

On the 13th of October, 1864, he was appointed 
Assistant General Ticket Agent of the Pennsyl\-ania 
Railroad. On the lOth of January, 1S67, liis title was 
changed to that of Assist<uit General Passenger and 
Ticket Agent, and thus continued until M.iy j6, i86g, 
wdien he was made h'irst Assistant, and placetl in direct 
charge of the ticket business of the Pennsylvania Rail- 
roatl and branches. 

On the 1st of April, 1872, he was ap])ointed General 
Passenger Agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Phil- 
adelphia and Plrie, united niilwa\'s of New Jersey, and 
their respective branches. On the 1st of l'"ei)riiary, 1874, 
his control was extended o\-er the Northern Central, 
Alexandria and P'redericksburg, and Haltimorc and Poto- 
mac Railwa)-s, antl on the 1st of ]\Iarch, 1875, the West 
Jerse\' Railway w.is added to his alreaily extensi\-e 
jurisdiction. 

He was earl}- identified with the L'nioii Fi-.msfer Com- 
pany of Philadelphia, taking a seat at its board of direc- 
tors in P'ebruary, 1868, and was made piesident in June, 
1870. His administration of its affairs was eminentl)- 
successful, and the present prosperous condition of the 
company owes much to his untiring energy and able 
management. 

When commissioners were beinii" selected l)v the \-ari- 




ous .States to represent their interests in the Centennial 
Commission, Mr. Bo\il was nominated by (n>\ernor 
Haker, of Indiana, as the alternate from that State, and 
was dul\- coiiiniissioneil by President Grant on the 29th 
of .April, 1871. lie remained in this position until May 
i\. 1874, when the onei'ous duties connectetl with his 
railrciad cai'es compelled his resignation. This tiid not 
occur, how ever, befcire he had made his influence strongly 
felt as a member of the Committee of Transportation, and 
in that capacity develo[)ed the plans and organized the 
comprchensi\e s\-stem of tickets and fares which so 
largely c(.)ntribute(l to the success of the Centennial 
enterprise. 

During the period of his itlentification with the Peim- 
sylvania Railroad, he was a powerful factor in building 
up and de\eloping the passenger business of that corpo- 
ration, and the splendid stale of efficiency which that 
departnient of the railroad has now reached is dui; in 
large measure to his clear foresight, accurate judgment, 
and singular a!)ilit\-. 'Phe signal success which attended 
his efforts in the handling of the enormous passenger 
traffic to and from the Centennial — the largest mo\-ement 
of the kind in the railwa\- worlil up to that tlate — was an 
achievement of which any man might well be pnnid. 
Had not the fateful sunnnons come to him at si> earl\- 
an age, the triumplis of his early life would sureh' have 
been eclipsed by the brilliancy of his more mature work. 

Mr. Boyd died April 3, 1877, leaving a widow and 
six children, two of whom still sur\i\e. 



294 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




STHl^HHN FARRF.LLY. 

Stephen ]'".\kkp:llv, iiianaL;cr nf the Central News 
Compan_\-, of Philatlelphia, is a native ot' Ireland, in 
which country he was born in 1843. His father, Uwen 
FarrelK', was the master of a private school in Ireland, 
anil a man of strontj con\ictinns and ^terlint; character. 
When his nati\c land was seriously disturbed, and the 
conduct of his business interfered with, b}- the political 
troubles I if 1S4S, he emi;4ratetl with his fimily tn this 
countr\', and settletl at I'enn Yan, New \'ork, where he 
himself educated his sons. After some \"ears he remo\ed 
with his family to New York cit\-, where, w hen se\-enteen 
years of aj^e, Stephen entered the service of Dexter ^: 
Brother, at that time wholesale news agents, but later 
prominent members of the great distributing organiza- 
tion known as the American News Cnnipany, which was 
established in 1864. 

An older son of ( )wen I'arrelh- was book-keeper for 
Dexter is; Hrother, anil became one of the founders of 
the American News Company, but on the formation of 
this company, Stephen, who had just reached his majorit}-, 
was not admitted to membership. Not caring to remain 
w ith the compan\' on a salary, he left them to seek his 
fortune elsewhere. He had gained an excellent knowledge 
of the business, was active and ambitious, and felt con- 
fident of making his way through his own energ\- and 
exertions. He went to Sa\annah, Georgia, mo\'ed b\- 
the idea that there would be a wide field for supplying 
the Southern people, depleted b\- the war, with educa- 
tional books and other literary material. In that city lie 
entered into a business contract with the old book firm 
of Ji)hn M. Coo[)er & Co., which before the war had 
been one of the largest l)ook and stationers- concerns in 



the .South, but whose business had \anished and its 
capital been reduced b_\- the effects of the war, while it 
was largely in debt to the North. Its chance of recu- 
peration seemed verv' small. 

Mr. Farrell}- was well aware of the high standing and 
honorable reputation of the house, and suggested that it 
might compromise with its Northern creditors and re- 
sume its business. He undertook to manage this him- 
self and personalK' visited the creditors of the firm and 
secured their compliance. This done, he entered into 
partnership with the firm, which miw took the firm-name 
of Cooper, (.)lci)tt & I""arrell\-, and conducted so success- 
ful a business that in a few years the old debt was paid off. 

Mr. Farrell}-, however, during his residence in the 
South, retained a strong con\-iction that the business of 
newspaper distribution was the one that offered most 
promise to ambition such as his, and in i86g he sold out 
his interest in the Sa\annah firm and returned to New- 
York, w-here he established the National New.s Company. 
This compan\' prospered under his management, as a 
rival to the American News Company, but after a few- 
}-ears its business w-as merged witli that of the latter con- 
cern, in which Mr. Farrelly now became a director. 

His residence in Philadelphia began in 1878, he hav- 
ing accepted the position of manager of the Central 
News Compan}-, a branch house which the American 
News Compan)- had established in this city in 1869. 
Since that date he has efficienth- managed this concern, 
whose adaptation to its purpose he has greatly developed. 
The wagon deli\-ery system was inaugurated by him, 
the method of short credits and quick collections was 
adopted, and the business developed until now the Cen- 
tral New-s Company is one of the most prominent busi- 
ness concerns in the cit\-. A few- \-ears ago handsome 
structures for the offices and warerooms of the company 
w-ere erected on South Washington Square, the building 
being one of the ornaments of that section of the city. 

Mr. Farrell)- has made himself prominent in Philadel- 
phia aflairs, and has gained hosts of friends by his frank 
and genial manner. He is President of the Catholic 
Club, and is a member of the Historical .Society of Penn- 
s)-lvania, the Citizens' Municipal Association of Philadel- 
phia, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Societ}% and the 
Penn and ^\rt Clubs. He is also a director of the St. 
Joseph's Orphan As)-liun, of the Cit\- Trust, Safe Deposit, 
and Surety Company, and of the Beneficial Sa\-ings Fund 
Society. He speaks P'rench fluently, and has on three 
occasions made extended trips to Europe, one of them 
in 1 87 1, immediatel)- after the P^-anco- Prussian W'ar, in 
which he \isited all parts of France and German)-. Of 
course, he did imt fail to re\-isit the old home of the 
faiiiil\- in Irelaml. 



MAKERS or PIIILADRLPIIIA. 



295 



F.DMUNU WOLSIEFFHR. 

Eu.MLNi) \\'iil--ii:fii:u was born in ]?altimi>rc, AIai\- 
laiul, September 13, 1844, a year later his parents 
remoxin;^ to Plliladelphia, w heie lie has Hvetl ahnost 
continuously since. His father was the late Phili]i 
Mathias Wolsieffer, the well-known foLinder of the first 
male sint^'ing societ)- in America, "The .Maennerchor," 
()|-gani/.ed December 15, lcS35,in Philadelphia. \'oung 
Wolsieffer received a good (.'diication, mostly in jM-ivate 
schools, his father, who was a German b_\- birth, insisting 
that he should learn the German language first, belie\ing 
that the nati\e would be acquired easil)- enough. As he 
showed an early talent for music, his f.ither, who was 
himself a [M'ofcssional musician, deteianinetl that pAlmund 
shoukl also adopt this profession, ami music was addeil 
to his studies. He soon became an e.x^iert pianist, and 
pla_\etl fiirl)- well on the \iolin ,uul \'ioloncello, frequently 
ap[)earing in j)ublic to advantage. In 1857 his lather be- 
c.mie one of the founders of that still flourishing German 
settlement, P^gg Harbor City, New Jerse_\-, antl the family 
soon remo\'ed to the new \illage, where lulmunil con- 
tinued his studies somewhat t.irdil}', C(.uuitry life having 
a new charm for him. ]-!ut in a few years he became 
restless and sighe(.l for mercantile pursuits, so in 186 1, 
just after the Ci\il War had broken out, his fither per 
mitted him to retLuai to Philadelphi.i, where he entered 
the to\' business of John ])ol],on Second Street abo\e 
Arch, antl a }'ear later was engaged as salesman and 
book-keeper at Chas. Schallcr's artificial flower manufac- 
tor\% on Arch abo\"e P'ourth. Here he remained .about 
a }-ear, and then decided to t.dsc up his own profession, 
soon hax'ing a large class of nuisic students. He was 
x-er}' successfifl in his [irofession, but still h.uikered fui- 
mercantile occupatit)n, so entered the piano manufactur- 
ing firm of Albrecht & Co., in 1874. which he left again 
in 1887 to retmai once more to his profession, in which 
he is now engaged together w ith the piano club business, 
which he established in 1 89 1. We must now return to 
1864, from whence dates his appearance in public life. 
Having been, tluring his youth, an associate member of 
the Maennerchor, lie became an active member at his 
majority, in l86_j, remaining so continuously up to the 
present day. During these thirt\- years' membership he 
held all the positions of lionor the Maennerchor could 
bestow, being the Societ}-'s president for two terms in 
1885 and 1886, at the close of which he received the 
honorar)- membership title. He still remained an active 
worker in the societ)-, and was again called to the presi- 
dential chair in 1894, which position he now holds. 
Pie is one of the founders of the German-American 
Charity Balls, so successfulh^ gi\-en under the auspices of 
the Maennerchor every winter at the Acadenn- of Music, 
being the chief manager of them from \'ear to year. In 
the affairs of the United Singers, of Philadelphia, he has 




.dwa)-s taken a promuient p.nt, ha\ uig been their |)resi(.lcnt 
for three terms, in 1883, 1884, and 1885, and now holding 
the position of chairman of their music committee, which 
is of great importance this year, owing to the participa- 
tion of the Philadelphia singers in the great National 
Saengerfest in New York cit\'. In all public demonstra- 
tions undertaken b_\- the M.ieimerchor, or the United 
.Singers, or kindred societies, he was always at the front, 
some notable instances being the great Russian I'amine 
Concert in 1892, which netted over S4000, the series of 
Police Pension Pund Concerts in 1893, realizing s6ooo, 
the United Singers' great P^air, just closed, the surplus 
being S5000. The seven Charity Halls gi\-en under his 
suiierxision netted o\er S20,000. In 1871 .Mr. Wolsieffer 
joined the Masonic fratei'nit)', becoming a member of 
Humboldt Lodge, No. 359, following this u]) by entering 
Palestine Chapter, No. 240, in 1874. PI is m.mifold duties 
in other directions onl\- prevented him hum accepting 
high Masonic honors. In 18S4 he was one of the fountl- 
ers of the Pastorius Knights of Honor Lodge, being its 
first and piesent dict.itor. Since its foundation in 1889, 
with the exception of one )'ear, when he declined a re- 
election, Mr. W'olsieffer has been the .Secretary and 
TreasLU'er of the " PennsyKania .State .Music Teachers' 
Association," an organization ha\ing as members all the 
principal music teachers and musicians in the State. In 
the Philadelphia Music Te.ichers' .\s.sociation he simply 
holds membership. Of the Philadelphia Musical Asso- 
ciation he has been a member for twent\--nine \-ears, being 
at one time one of the executi\e committee. He is also 
a member of the old German Society, and has been for 
many \-ears an honorary member of the " P"gg Harbor 
Aurora," another \-ocaI society founded by his father in 
1858. Mr. Wolsieffer is hapi)il\- married, three children 
beiii"' left to him and his wife. 



296 



J/AK/iRS OF PHILADFJ.PIIIA. 




ROBERT ALHXANDHR. 

RoiiEKT Ali.xaniiick, a prominent lawyci- of Philadel- 
phia, was l)(irn in liiicks County, PennsyK ani<i, J Lily 3, 
184C'), and was educated in the public schools of that 
counts', and afterw.irtis in the Cai'\ ersvillc Normal School, 
fi'om which he L;raduate<.I with hiL;lt honors. After his 
s^radu.Ltion, he spent four \'ears in teachini;' scluiol, a pro- 
fession for which he had lieen fitted h_\- his normal-school 
trainini;. lie aspired, liowexei', to the leL;.d profession, 
and, comiuL;" to Plliladelphia. entereil as a stLident the 
law office of Hon. D. Xewlin l"\'ll, now a judLje of the 
Supreme Court of Peiinsyh.mi.i. He was admitteil to 
the bar in 1871, and at once entered upon an actixe 
practice, \\ Inch lias since steatlily i.;row n in e.vtent and 
importance. He has been coiiceiiied as counsel and 
taken part in the arguments in niaii)' of the leadinLj cases 
that ha\'e been of late }-ears before the Penns^'K'ania 
Courts. His success as a lawyer has been marked, and 
from his admission to the bar until the pi'esent time his 
practice has lieen \aried, luciati\e, and e.\tensi\e. 

When Chailes V . Waiwick was made Assistant Dis- 
trict Attorney, Mr. Alexander became associated with 
him as law partner, attending to the [irivate business of 
the firm. Subsequently, in 18S4, Mr. Warwick was 
elected to the office of City Solicitor, and at once ap- 
pointed Mr. ^Mexander his first assistant, moved thereto 
by a full a|ipreciatioii of his legal knowledge and forensic 



ability. ]")uring his term of duty in this position, the 
organization of the cit_\- government in accordance with 
the rei|uii-enients ol the liullitt Pill tmik place, under 
which new adjustment ot municipal affairs man)- impor- 
tant and ililTicult i|uestions arose, wliich it requii'etl all 
the legal iibility in the Cit)' Solicitor's department to 
settle satisfacloi'ily. In the tlisposal of these tpiestions, 
Mr. Alexaiuler took an acti\-e part, Mr. Warwick availing 
himself of the judgment and experience of his able 
assistant in the v.iriet\- of knotty legal problems that 
needed to be soKetl. During the remaimler of Mr. 
Alexander's period of official serxice, main' important 
matters of litigation to which the city was a party fell 
into the .Solicitor's hands, and in all these his assistant 
took ])art with the skill aiul abilil)' for which he is noted. 
In j)articular, iie gaiiieil liigh commendation for his 
vigorous effort in the city's behalf in the suit institutetl 
to prexent the Philadeljjhia and Reading Railroad Com- 
pany from building its road through tlie cit)' without ob- 
taining the consent of the Councils. After two terms 
of dut}' in the office of City Solicitor, extending to si.x 
years, Mr. Alexander witlidrew from official service and 
returnetl t(.) his prixate practice, which demandetl all his 
time and attention. 

Of his legal services since that period, the most notable 
instance has been in connection with the Bardsley case, 
in which he actetl as the counsel of the derelict Cit_\' 
Treasurer. Though the case was hopeless from the 
start, Bardsley's criminal actiinis being too patent to 
admit of successful tlefeiice, Mr. Alexander hantlled his 
complicated matters \s\\.\\ a fine ability and judgment 
that won the admiration of his opponents at the bar and 
excited the ileep and earnest attention of the genend 
communit)'. 

As a lawyer, Mr. Alexander is well read, abundantly 
trained, and thoroughly ei|ui[)ped in his profession. He 
is a caretul and painstaking worker, his briefs always 
show ing thorough preparaticin, while in the management 
of cases he attends strictl}' to e\'er)' detail, aiul is keen 
and searching in the examination of witnessses. Sound 
in judgment, clear in arrangement, and logical in argu- 
ment, he is strong alike before the court and the jur_\', 
and holds a high position at the Philadelphia bar. 

In 1890, Pklward W. Magill became associated a.s law 
partner with Mr. Alexander, under the firm name of 
Alexander & Ma^ill. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



297 



NATHAN P. SHORTRll^GH. 

Nathan Pakrer Siioktkiix.k, a nicrcliant of Phila- 
delphia, was born in P(i|-tsni(uith, New Hampshire, where 
his father, Jolni M. Sh(irtri(_lL;e, liad lon;^' resides! ,ind 
conducted a mei'cantile Inisincss. .Mi-. Shi utridLje was 
educated at Dox'er .\cadeni_\', where he prn\ed a \-ery 
apt schohir. 1 Ia\ing completed his education theie, lie 
came, at the .li^e of sixteen, t< ■ Philadelphia, which was 
to form the place of his future residence. He oht.iineil 
in th.it city .1 position as office and erranil lj<_i)' in the 
dry-goods conniiissii_in house of IJ. S. Brown & Co., with 
which he remained connected for }-e.n's, and trained there 
a thorough knowledge of antl experience in the business. 
Here an ambition for commercial success, and a nati\e 
industiy and integrit}-, carried liim forward, until in time 
he attained the position of head salesman of the house. 
It took twelve years of service tc) reach this position, 
and he had good reason t(i hojie that he would soon be 
made a partner in the firm, when the house dissolved, 
and his hopes in th.it direction came to an enel. Shortl}' 
afterwards he associated himself in business with ("i. V. 
Peabody, one of the members of the late fli-ni, who had 
established and was conducting a similar business. 

The new funi was org.mized in i.S^S, and pushed its 
trade with such energy antl abilit\- that, largeU' through 
the efforts of .Mr. .Shortridge, it became eminently suc- 
cessful, Mr. Peabody being able to retire with a satisfac- 
tor\- competence in l86j. The junior [Kirtner continued 
the business in association with others, the firm title 
now becoming Harris, Shortridge & Co. At .1 later date 
new changes took place, and tJie firm n.ime was ag.iin 
changed to Shortridge, Borden ^: Co. Mr. Shortridge 
pushed the business with his wonted energy and achieved 
a notable success. 

Be\-ond the limits of his business interests, Mr. .Short- 




ridge established .1 reputation as .1 man of unusual fin.in- 
ci.il insight antl integrit}-, and fioni time to time assumed 
relations with \-arious business instituticjns of the city. 
.Among tliese ma_\- be named the Philadel[)hia National 
H.ink and the Americ.m Ste.imship ComjKui)', in both 
of which he became a director. He became also a 
member of the Pin.mce Committee of the Centennial 
Exhibition, and aitled m,iteriall\- in the earnest and valu- 
able work of the body ui)on which the succcs.s of that 
grand exposition of the world's industr}' was mainly 
dependent. 

Mr. .Shortriilge continues acti\ely engaged in busines.s 
and in his financial and corporate relations, and still holds 
his position among the active business men of Philadel- 
])hia. He was married in 1833 to I\Iiss ICliza J. Runtllett, 
of Philadelphi.i. 



38 



298 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




JAMES W. QUEEN. 

Jamics \V. QiEEN, a pi'oiiiiiKiit optician of Philadel- 
pliia, was born in this city in 1811, being tlic son of 
Thomas and Mary Queen, of Phihadelpliia. Durini; the 
War of 1812-15 with Great Britain, his father \v;is en- 
gaged in the duty of protecting Wihiiington, Delaware, 
against an expected attack by the sliips of the enemy, 
wliicli had sailed up the Chesapeake Bay ami bmaied 
the public buildings of Washington. The son, then a 
\-oung infant, was taken to see him while employed in 
this im[)oi'tant wi-irk. At the youthful age of sexen the 
future optician entered the ser\-ice of Fryer & Anderson, 
who kept at that time a fine dr\--g(jods establishment 
at Second and Chestnut Streets, from which section of 
the city the iashionable retail trade had not \-et departed 
on its later journe)- westward. ^After a period of service 
in this establishment he was sent to school, attending, 
during 1824-25, the D.Watson School, on I'ourth Street 
near South Street, a school in which I^dwin Forrest and 
many other eminent men were educated. He proved a 
very attentixe student, antl became proficient in his studies. 
Qn lea\-ing school he entered the McAllister optical es- 
tablishment, the leading house in that line of business in 
the cit)'. Flere he not only gained a thorough knowl- 
edge of the business, but the respect and commendation 
of his employer, Mr. McAllister speaking of him in later 
years as the best young man he had ever brought up in 
his business. He was possessed of a natin-al mechanical 
ingcnuit\-, which aided him greatly in the line of business 
he had adopted, and which showed itself while he was 
still \'oung in a niunber of inventions, and in later )-ears in 
important improvements in optical instruments. Among 
the products of his youthful ingenuity was a miniature 
locomoti\e, while he showed his artistic facultv bv 



engiaving, when hardl}- twent)' years of age, a number 
of excellent \iews of prominent buildings in Philadel- 
phia. 

The [)rogress of the )(>ung uptician with his employer 
was so rapitl and satisfictory that he was taken into 
Ijartnership in 1836, when he was still ([uite \-oung, the 
partnership continuing until 1852, when it was dissohed. 
Mr. Queen started business on his own account in the 
succeeding }car. the location of his establishment being 
No. 924 Chestnut Street. During this period he had 
shown himself n(_)t onI_\' a thorough man nf business, 
pleasant anil affable to customers and active in advancing 
trade, but had also kept up his inventive ficulty, his im- 
[iiovements in instruments adding notabl}' to the traile 
of the house. In 1841, upon the discover}' by Daguerre 
of his new process of taking pictures bv' the aid of sun- 
light, Mr. Queen at once began experimenting with it, 
aiul was verv successful, jiroducing a numbei' of excellent 
daguerrotv'pes. 

He conducted business for himself as activelv and suc- 
cessfully as he had done in connection with Mr. McAl- 
lister, his instruments being of acknowledged supcrioritv", 
while the reputation of his house spread throughout 
America and Eurojje. He retiretl from business about 
the close of the war, having actiuiretl a competence, and 
desiring to s]5end the remainder of his lite in rest and 
quiet enjov'ment. He had long been interested in the 
development of the microscope, and much of his later 
leisure was given to microscopy, which continued a par- 
ticularly attractive pursuit, it being one of his special 
eniov'ments to gather about him small evening parties 
of microscopists or of persons given to philosophical 
thought and stud\-. In manner he was quiet and unas- 
snming, and very methm-lical in habit, a t]u,dity which 
had stood him in good stead during his years of business 
life. 

After retiring from business, Mr. Queen made a 
journev- to Europe, and while there collected much 
material of an interesting character, including the work 
of inventors, fine photographs, and other articles of 
interest and value, which he enjoyed showing and ex- 
plaining to his tViends. He got together also a fine 
collection of coins, manv' of them of much worth ami 
rarity. 

P'rom the time he was fifteen )-ears of age, Mr. Queen 
took a deep interest in religious matters. He became a 
member of Dr. Brainard's Presbyterian Church at Fourth 
and Pine .Streets, — the Old Pine -Street Church, as it was 
called. In this church he took an active part, and after- 
wards became a member of Calvary Church, on Locust 
.Street above Fifteenth Street. He was a member of the 
Historical Society of Pennsvlvania and interested in its 
progress, giving it much historical material. Mr. Queen 
died at Cresson, Pennsylvania, Julv 12, 1890. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



299 



RF.V. G. WOOLSliY HODGE. 

GeiiK(;i", Will ir.si:v IIudue was linni in Philadelphia, 
Ma_\- 20, 1S45, his father bciiiL;^ Dr. Hiii^li L. I lodge, 
fur many ye.irs a prnfe-ssnr in the Medical Department 
111 the l'ni\ersity 1 if I'ennsyKania, and one nf the lead- 
ing physicians nf the city. His grandfither was Dr. 
1 high Iliidge, will) served as a surgeon in the Re\i:>lu- 
tii)nar\- ai'm}-, and his great-grandfather was Mr. iVndrew 
Hodge, one of Philadelphia's earliest merchants. 

Mr. Hodge recei\ed his earl)' education at Dr. Samuel 
\y . Cr.iwford's school, 011 J-'ourth Street below Arch, 
lie afterwards entered Dr. Faiix's' classical academy, 
and in iSdi matriculated in the .\rts Department of the 
Uni\-crsit)' cif PennsyKania. He gratluated in 1865^ 
taking the Plenry Reed prize for the best Pjiglish essay, 
and being elected orator of his class. In the autumn of 
the same )-ear he entered the Philadelphia Di\init\- School 
of the Protestant P^jiscopal Church, from which institu- 
tion he graduated in iSf'iS. After spenijing a \'ear in 
tra\-elling abroad, he was ordained deacon in 1S69, and 
.soon after became assistant minister in (lid Christ Church, 
on Second Street abo\e Market. He remained connected 

I 

with this parish for ten years. For three \-ears he had j 
charge of Cah'ar}- Church, then stantling at the corner I 
of I'ront and Margaretta .Streets, and attached to Christ 
Church. Afterw.ii-ds he undertook to collect funds antl 
organize another chapel for Christ Chui'ch in the western | 
part of the city. After holding ser\ices in seveial tern- ! 
poi'ar}- locations, a lot was finally secured, and the monev 
was obtained to erect the present Christ Church Chapel 
on Pine Sti'eet above Nineteenth Street. Here Air. I lodge 
gathered an entirel)- new congregation of o\-er two Inin- 
dixxl conmiunicants, antl securetl an annual income of 
between fi\e and si.x thoLisand dollars. [ 

In the autumn of 1S80 lie became rector of the Clnn-ch 
of the Ascensinii, then located on I,iimbari.l Street above 
l'".le\'enth. Prior to this time, fmm a \Mriety of causes, 
the congregation of this church had become greatly 
depleted, but by the adoption 1 if various impro\ements 
which were niatle b}' Mr. Hodge, alterations in the mode 
of conducting its scr\-ices, etc., he was able to add largel}' 
both to its nieniliership and its resources, and bring it 
into a satisfactor}' state of prosperit)'. In 18S5 the prop- 
erty of the parish on Lombard Street was sold to a 
colored congregation, and a much more eligible lot pur- 
chased on Broad below South .Street, on which first a 
pari.sh building and afterwards the present stone church 
edifice were erected, <it a cost of some ^40,000. Man_\- ad- 
ditional improvements have since l)een ackled, inclutling 
a fine Roosevelt organ. This church is coiulucted on the 
I'^rec Church princijjlc, and its membersjiip is composed 
of all classes of people. There arc ser\ices in it fi\'e or 
six times every Sunday, ami two or three times each da\' 
of the week, wliile it is alwaj's open for ])rivatc devotion. 




Mr. Hodge took a prominent part in founding the 
I'"ree and 0[)en Church Association in 1873, and acted 
as its ciirres])! Hiding secretar}' for a number of \-ears. 
Tliis association has been instrumental in extending the 
Free Church system throughout the United .States. He 
has also taken an acti\e interest in the mo\'cment for 
the laomotion of Church Unit)'. He ser\'ed as secre- 
tai')- of the Penns\l\ania Brancli of the Church Unity 
Societ)' from 1887 to 1893, and is now the General 
.Secretar\' of the -Societ)'. He has ser\ x'd as the chair- 
man of sex'eral important committees of the CoiU'ention 
of the Diocese of Penns)'l\ania, notabl)- tho.se whicii 
formed the Constitution of the Board of Trustees of the 
Diocese, on Parochial Iioundaries. and for a Diocesan 
House. 

Mr. Hodge is chaplain of the .Societ)' of the Sons of 
the Re\olution, lia\'ing served in that capacit)' since 1890. 
He is the author of a sermon [)reached before that society 
and published at its recpicst, and has contributed impor- 
tant articles to the CIniir/i Rcric:^', Xck' Princeton Rri'ic7V, 
and other periodicals. Personall)' he is an agreeable and 
effecti\e preacher, an incisi\'e and convincing debater and 
w liter, and an excellent organizer, ha\ing in a remarkable 
degree that valuable cjualit)' for success in new work, — 
indomitable ])erseverance. These characteristics, together 
with those attractive (]ualities whicli are the ri:sult of 
culture and good breeding, have combined to make him 
a man of prominence and influence in the sphere of liis 
[)rofession, as well as among his fellow-citizens in all the 
walks of life. 

He married, in 1872, Alar)' de \''eaux Powel, a grand- 
daughter of John I hire Powel of this cit}', and, on the 
mother's side, of the Hon. Richard H. ]5a)'ard, at one 
time Senator of the United States from Delaware, and 
afterwards United State.s Minister to Belgium. 



300 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




GKORGE MORKiSON COAXES. 

George I\Iiirri>ox Coaii-> \\a^ Ijnin ia Philadelphia, 
August 20, 1817, and resiilcd in that city to the end of 
his life. He was the son of George Morrison Coates, a 
successful merchant in his day, and of Rebecca Ilinnur, 
the daughter of another Philadelphia merchant. Indeed, 
Mr. Coates had a distinct inheritance of mercantile train- 
ing, most of his ancestors ha\ing followed the pursuit 
of commerce from the time of his great-great-grand- 
fathers, — Thomas Coates, who came to Pennsyh'ania 
from Spro.xton, in Leicestershire, l^ngland, in 1682, and 
John Hornor, who landed from the ship " Providence," 
at Burlington, New Jerse\-. in 1683. Among the pas- 
sengers b)' the " Shield," the first \"essel of size to ascend 
the Delaware as far as Hiu'lington, in 167S, were two 
other ancestors of Mr. Coates, — Thomas Potts, the [iro- 
genitor (if a fimily of some distinction in New Jerse}', 
and Mcdiliiii .Stac\', one of the pioprietors of West 
Jerse)', and a prominent officer in the go\'ernment of i 
that colon}-. Another ancestor was the father of the I 
fmious Governor W'iiithrop, of ^Massachusetts colony, 
and still anotlier was Captain George Morrison, whose 
name appears among the signers of the non-impoitation 
resolution of October 25, 1765, a fic-simile of which 
hangs in Independence Hall. Thomas Coates died in 
1719, leaving, among other pieces of property, a house 
and lot on Second Street above Market, where his great- 
great-grandson, a hundred and thirt}- years later, was 
to begin his mercantile career. 

George Morrison Coates, after ha\ ing received a sound 
classical education in the best priwite schools of the 
city, was placed in the establishment of James P'assett, 
a prominent merchant, to accpui'e his mercantile training. 
At the age of twenty-one, he, with his father's assistance, 
began business on his own account as a merchant in 



cloths and cassimeres, his establishment being located 
upon the propert}' before mentioned, which then be- 
longed to his father, and which had for a long time been 
occupied b\' Coates & Randolph, the firm of his grand- 
father, Josiah Langdale Coates. This adventure pro\ing 
profitable, Mr. Coates some years later remoxed to a 
larger establishment upon Market Street abo\-e Third, 
leaving his Second Street business, in which he still re- 
tained an interest, to a new firm, of which his cousin, the 
late Charles W. Pickering, was the head. The panic of 
1857 coming on, Mr. Coates met with severe reverses, 
and in 1859 retired from the business he had so long 
conducted, and soon after fcTrmed a partnership with his 
brother Benjamin fur the pui'pose of tlealing in wool. 
The wool trade was great!)- stimulated b\- the outbreak 
of war in 1861, and the consecjuent great demand for 
that staple for war purposes. Values ad\-anced rapidl}' 
and trade increased largely, so that the new firm enjoyetl 
a rapid and permanent success. In 1 869, the two brothers 
became interested as special partners in a now well-known 
publishing firm, of which a near relati\e had for several 
years been a general partner: and later on Mr. Coates 
took an acti\e interest in this firm. 

'\\x . Coates was for \'ears an acti\'e member of the 
Board of Trade and of the Board of Health, an<_i served 
for eleven }-ears as a city director of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad Compan\-. He was one of the earliest mem- 
bers of the Union League, and always greatly interested 
in public affairs, and a liberal contributor towards the suc- 
cess of the Republican part)', in whose political principles 
he was a firm believer, and of which party he was one of 
the organizers. During the war, he gave liberall)- of his 
time and his means to the national cause, and tciok an 
interest especialh' in the raising of the regiments sent out 
b)- the U^nion League. In 1864 he was chosen a presi- 
dential elector, casting his \-ote for Abraham Lincoln and 
Andrew Johnson. In 1868 he was placed at the heatl of 
the electoral ticket as elector at large b\' the Republican 
.State Convention, duly voting, when elected, for Grant 
and Coif IX ; and in 1872 was again an elector, voting for 
Grant and Wilson. He had, however, no ambition for 
political life, and uniforml)' declined to accept nomination 
to an)- office carr\-ing with it an emolument. 

Mr. Coates married, in 1840, Anna, daughter of Henry 
Troth, a native of Maryland, but a prominent citizen of 
Philadelphia, being President of the cit\' Common Coun- 
cil at a time when the niemliership of that body con- 
sisted of men bearing the best known and most respected 
names in the communit)-. In 1871 Mr. Coates received 
a severe shock in the ileath of his )-oimgest son, fioni 
which he never fully recovered ; and after the death of 
his wife, in 1881, he withdrew almost entireh" from public 
life. He died Ma)- 21, 1893, in the house in which he 
had resided for thii't\--four \'ears. 



MAKERS OF PHIT.ADET.PIIIA. 



301 



CHARLHS W. BROOKH. 

The ancestors of Chai'lrs W'.illari' ISnmke, the emi- 
nent lawN'er anil orator, cniij^rated from Ireland to this 
country at an earl}- date, thouL;li the notable Irish cjiiali- 
ties of L,renialit\', wit, and eloi|Lience ai'e still retained b\' 
the descenilant of tjie fimily w ith w honi we are at present 
concerned. His grandf itjiei', C'harles J. Hrookc, was an 
intimate frieml of Alexander I I.imilton, whose name he 
L,Mve to his most proniisinL; son. This son, ^Vlexander 
Hamilton Brooke, was born in \'ir,L;inia, in which State 
the Brooke family is still one of note. He entered the 
navy, but after a time left it, moved to I'hil.idt.-lphia, and 
became a sea captain nf that port, commanding;" the 
largest shij) in the China tratle. He married the dauL;"h- 
ter of Captain Joseph Bei-r\-, another famous Philadelphia 
seaman, his son Chai'les bein;..; hoin .\pril 10, u^jO. in 
the then tlistrict of Southwark, near the Old Swedes' 
Church. 

Captain Brooke dietl when his son was but foiu' _\-ears 
of age, leaving his wife a small conipetenc)'. Mrs. Brooke 
took care that her children should recei\-e a good educa- 
tion, Charles being educated at the I'rcitestant I'^piscopal 
Acadenu' of Philadelphia, and afterwiirds at the Univer- 
sity of Pennsyhania. At the age of se\'enteen he lelt 
the L'ni\ersit_\- to accept a clerkship in the Western Bank. 
In this establishment he is d'ediled with starting the s\-s- 
tem of striking letlger balance-sheets foi' each daj-'s busi- 
ness, ami alsii of inaugurating the clearing-house system 
in PhihKlelphia. 

Banking business, however, was not to his taste, and 
he studied law in his leisure moments, Charles E. Lex 
acting as his prece[)tor. He was admitted to the bar in 
October, 185S, when twent}'-t\\d \'ears of age. The 
office taken b\' him was near that of lienjamin Harris 
Brewster, who tiiok a strong interest in him, antl remained 
during life his warm friend. The \'oung la\v\'er quickly 
made friends and gained clients through his winning- 
manners and that gift of eloquence which had earh' dis- 
pla)-ed itself He had chosen the specialt)' of criminal 
practice, and by the time he had been two years before 
the bar he had gained a leading jiosition in the Philadel- 
phia criminal courts, nian\' important cases coming into 
his hands. In addition to his legal I'eputation, he quickly 
became prominent in the social life of Philadelphia. He 
was one of the public-s[)irited founders of the Union 
League, an institution w hich did so much to sustain the 
government during the war. He was also one of the 
originators of the Penn Clulj, another of the prominent 
social institutions of the Quaker Cit\-. He was fond of 
theatricals, and became an acti\e memlier of the Amateur 



> 







Dramatic Society. He was president of the Board of 
Scliool Directoi's, and diu'ing the war was a prominent 
sustainer of the I'nion cause as a member ot the P'irst 
Citv Troop, with which he marched, under the leader- 
ship of Hon. Samuel J. Randall, to the defence of Get- 
t\-sburg. At s'.iccessi\-e dates he was Democratic candi- 
date for Distiict Attornex' and for Congress, but was not 
elected, the Re])ul)lican party being in a strong majorit)-. 

Mr. Brooke's fine powers oi ciratoiy and high sensi' of 
humor were soon displa\-ei.l in the lecture field, in which 
the announcement of his name liecame sure to draw a 
large audience. His lectures on " Irish Bartls ami Bal- 
lails" .md " Rare ( )ld Players" were highly po|)ular, anil 
were deli\eied not only in Philadelphia, but in x'arious 
other cities. His sense of humor, in f;ict. won for him 
the title of " The Wit of the Philadel])hia Bar," and 
could all the bright .sayings that ha\e fdlen from his 
tongue be gatheretl, the)- would make a \-olume of good 
things. 

In 1S71 Mr. P)rooke |-emo\-ed from Philaiielphia to 
New York, in w liicli wider fiekl of practice he has since 
been engaged. Among his man\- famous cases ma}- be 
n.un(_(l the WoodhuU .uid Clafiin lil)el suit in ci>nnection 
with the- Beechei' and lilton scand.d, and his defence of 
IIenr}-S. I\'es, •' The \'oung Na|)oleon of I-'inance." In 
orator\-, he has ni.ide his mark in New \'ork In- his 
famous orations on Robert P'.mmet and at the un\-eiling 
of the statue of Tom Moore, in Prospect Park, Brookl}n, 
where tw ent\- thousand people listened to his eloquent 
words. Another notable event was his memorial oration 
on the " Manchester Martyrs." in the Cooper Institute. 



^02 



3MKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 





JAMES DOAK, JR. 

James Dhak, Jk., worsted maiuiractmcr, was born at 
LondondciT}-, Ireland, June 14, iSj;^, and was brout;ht 
to tliis country \)y his father wlien se\ en \-ears of age, 
settliiii^ in Xew \'(irk city. Aftei' reuiainini;' there a 
short time the father moved to Newark, New Jersc)', 
where he engatjed in the t^rocery business. lie after- 
wards li\-ed for about eighteen ninnths in l""aU Ri\er. 
Massachusetts, and from there came to Pliiladelphia, 
where lie began to make checked cotton goods on a 
hand-loom. 

Mr. Doak began his education in Lontlondei-ry and 
completed it in the puljlic schools of this cmuitr)-, 
being taken from sclmol when ten \-ears of age antl 
placed in tlu- ficti)r_\' (.)f Joseph Flemming, at Fairniount, 
Philadelphia, in the humble occujjation nf cotton-picker. 
He afterwards Ijegan to learn the tratle of we.uing in 
Isaac Rowe's factor}', but subseciuentl}' his father re- 
mo\cd to Mana\'unk, where all the members of tlie 
family found emiiloyment in the factory of Josej))! Ripka. 
Mr. Doak lemained for ten years in this factory, growing 
to be an expert workman, and gaining the position of 
])ower-loom boss, wliich he held at the period of tlie 
disturbances in business preceding the Ci\il War. 

On the call for volunteers for the war, Mr. Doak 
hastened to enlist, joining the Twent_\--third Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, the regiment known as Birney's Zouaves, 
and conuiianded b\- Colonel (afterwards Major-General) 
Da\ad H. Hirney. Soon after reaching the front, four 
companies were transferred from the regiment to the 
Sixts'-hrst Penn^yhania, an organizatinn made up of 
miners and rolling-mill hands from the western part of the 
State. The transferred companies, wliich included that 
of which Mr. Doak was a member, were by no means 
pleased with this arrangement, not liking the rough 



character of their new associates; but their opinion 
became changed afterwards, when the Sixty-first had 
gained the reputation of being one of the bravest regi- 
ments in the army. It was maile a [lart of Pratt's 
Light Brigade, organized f >r the puipnse of being used 
for the cpiick reenforccment of weak or overpowered 
points in the line of battle, and became a part of the 
.Sixth Corps, the " foot cavalry" of the Army of the 
I'otomac, as it came to be called from the celeritx' of 
its movements. The tlut_\' given Pratt's Brigaile was a 
dangerous one, and no regiment in that ami)- lost more 
heaxily in bailed and wounded than the Si\t\'-third, 
either in rank and file or in officers. 

Mr. Doak ser\'ed with this regiment through the Pen- 
insulai' campaign, after which illness compelled his re- 
mo\al to the hospital. Here he became so reduced that 
his life was despaired of He was ti'ansferred to the 
hospital on David's Island, and after remaining there ten 
weeks was sent North, and placed in the Satterlee Hos- 
pital in West Philadelphia. He was subsequently dis- 
cliarged from here, with tlie discomforting assurance that 
he had but a few weeks to live. His weight had become 
reduced to ninety-two pounds. But he had no sooner 
left tile hos[)ital than he began to discredit the prediction 
of its physicians, b)' gaining in health and strength, and 
in 1 S64 again enlisted, this time in the navy, in which he 
servetl till the end of the war. This life in the sea-air 
proved liighl}' beneficial, and by the close of the war 
his health was completely restored. 

He now took a position as clerk in the insunuice 
office of William Arrott, with whom, in April, 1866, he 
entered into partnership, with the j)urpose (if engaging 
in the cai'pet nianuficture, then a rapidly de\'eloping busi- 
ness of Philadelphia. The new firm, however, quickl\- 
changed from carpets to cloakings and worsted goods, 
ill which they continued engaged until the death of Mr. 
Arrott. After leaving the nav}-, Mr. Doak went earnestly 
to work to improve his scanty education, and for a 
, number of years w'orked indefatigably, attending night 
I school, taking a course at a commercial college, and 
reading industriously. In this way he prepared himself 
for the larger business and more complicated transactions 
which he developed afterwards. His mills at present 
have grown to extensive proportions. They are situated 
at Norris and Blair Streets and Trenton Avenue, their 
product including worsted yarns, cloakings, suitings, and 
Jersey waists. 
i Mr. Doak is a director in the National Security Bank, 
' and in the Manuficturers' Club, of which he was an 
actixe iMomoter. He is a member of the Masonic order, 
i of the Union League, and of the Grand Army of the 
Republic, and belongs also to the Five O'Clock ami 
Roast Beef Clubs, two of Pliiladelijhia's best known 
social orranizations. 



JLIKERS OF PHIL. \np.i. nil. \. 



RUFUS E. SHAin^EY. 

RuFus E. Siiai'Ij:\, fm- iiian_\- \-i.:ars one of the fore- 
most pleaders at the I'hilaileliilii.i hai', w.is Ixirn in Car- 
hsle. I'ennsyl^ania, AuL^ust 4, iS4(_), and was edueated at 
L)iekins<in College, tliere- situated, LjrachiatinL;' in iS6c. 
He was admitlecl to the bar in liis naii\e ti>\vn in 1.S61, 
l.)ut soon soiiLjlit a wilier field fm- his powers, it the I'liila- 
dclphia b.ir, to which he was ,idniitled in I 860. 

His practice beL;an in the ei'iniiiial eomts, to which he 
was adapted by his keen insii^lit into human n.itiue and 
his active interest in the affairs of the world, and in which 
he quickly gained a larLje pr.ictice. lie Ijecame and for 
in.uiv \"ears continue<l counsel tor Ma\i>i' Sto]<le\' and 
the police Department of Philadelphia, anil durin;^ tlie 
tei'ms of office of Sheriffs Row, in ,ui(J Rii_lgwa_\- actetl as 
their solicitor, llis practice _L;raduall\- changed from the 
crimiii.d to the civil courts, and for nian\- j'cars has been 
confmeel cdmost e-\clusi\ el\- to civil and corporation cases 
of magnitude and importance. 

C)f the mail)- cases tried by him, some of the more 
import, uit aiul interesting m.iv be named. In 1S71 he 
gained the case of Captain Hratly, in the United .States 
courts, for salvage in sa\-ing the steamship " Penns\-1- 
vania," after the captain and first and second officers 
hail lieen vvashei.1 ov erl)o,irtl. Mis crt.vss-examination 
of Rivers, the fourth officer of the steamship, and the 
com])an_\-'s chief witness, lastetl eleven davs, and ended 
in (.lemoiistrating the absolute incapacitv cif Rivers to 
haiulle the ship. It shciwed th.it his log would have 
placed the shi[i five hundrei-l miles inland, when, in fact, 
she was at the capes of Delaware. 

In law, as in everv'thing else, success is a crucial test 
of capacity, and, measured in this vva\', Mr. Shapley's 
career has proved his high abilitv in his profession, for 
he has won man)' cases involving large interests and vit.il 
questions of law ami ecpiity. ( )ne of the most notable 
of these cases was his successful ilefence of the Times 
and of Colonel McClure in the liljel suit l)rought against 
them by the Louisian.i Lotterv Conipanv for SlOO.OOO 
d.unages. 

In the case of Steinman and Plensel, disbarred b_v the 
Lancaster Countv court, he actetl as counsel fni- the 
plaintifTs, and won from the SLipreme Court a reversal of 
the verdict of the lower court, and a decision sustaining 
the right of lawyers to criticise the actions of judges, — a 
point of leading importance to the legal profession. He 
also acted as special counsel for the State in a large n Lim- 
ber of suits for taxes brought against defaulting corj)o- 
rations. These taxes had been supi)osed lost, but he 
succeeded in recovering for the State about h.ilf a million 
of dollars. 




The rtveniie act nf I SSj was draughted and carried 
through the State Legislature bv' him. It filled to become 
a law through lack of the signature of the presiilent of 
the Senate: but his laljor on it was by no means wasted, 
as it forms the basis df the existing revenue laws, whose 
provisions h.ive l)een cojMed from it. In the case of 
the proceeilings instituted b\- the Governor for the 
removal fVoin office of .\uditi>i'-Ciener.il McCamant anil 
State Treasuier Hover, Mr. Shaplev' aj)peareil as counsel 
for the defeml, lilts before the Senate of Pennsylvania, 
and won a verdict of aciiuittal, cm the ])ka of want of 
jurisdiction. 

In atldition to the above, several more recent cases in 
^ which he has been engaged mav' l.)e named. 1 le acted 
; as counsel for the Philadelphia Traction Company in the 
famous trolley cases, the result being a reversal by the 
Supreme Court of the decision of the lower court. This 
judgment added nearlv' 84,000,000 to the market value 
of Traction stock-. He was counsel before the Supreme 
Court tor the Public Ruildings Commission, and obtained 
a decree which declared the act abolishing the commis- 
sion to be unconstitutional. The above instances will 
suffice as exarn])les of the important character of his 
legal practice. Hut no sketch of Mr. .Sh.iplev's career 
would be complete without referring to his humor, of 
which he possesses a racv vein, and which has often been 
used with telling effect. One of the best-known and 
most eflective instances of this is his "Solid for Mul- 
hooly." a keen and laughable political satire directed 
against " boss rule." A literarv" work in the same gen 
eral direction is "The Librarv' of Wit and Humor," a 
five volume production, of which lie was co-etlitor with 
A. R. Spofford, librarian of Congress. 



304 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




SAMUHL B. HUHY. 

Saml'ici, Haikp HiEVwas hdin at I'ittsburL;, January 
7, iiS43, of Scotch-Irish ancc.str\- wlio came to America 
in I7f)3. (~)ne of liis great-grancltathers was killed in 
W'.rshington's arm)- at the battle of Trenton. His father, 
S. C. Huey, was a prominent business man of I'hilatlel- 
pllia, and I'resitlent i>f the Penn ^lutual Life Insurance 
Ciinipaiu' until his death in iSiSo. 

'\\x. line)' was educated in piiwite schools, ,md at 
tweUe years of age enteretl the Central High Schnol, 
fr(im which he graduated as \-aledictori.ui. He then 
studied at I'rinceton College, where he graduated in the 
class ol iSfj:;, recei\ing prizes for oratory antl debate. 
While at college he was fond of athletic sports, and 
ser\ed as ca|itain of the cricket team and as one of the 
base-ball nine, .\fter gratluating, he entered the na\'al 
ser\ ice as captain's clerk on the United States steamer 
"San Jacintn ;" in 1864 was made ensign on the staff of 
Rear-Admiral liaily, and in 18O5 was [promoted assistant 
paymaster, lie took part in the attacks on Fort Fisher 
and \Vilmingti)n, and ccnitinued on blockade ilut\' till 
the end of tlu; w.ir. 

After his return linmc. Air. Huey began the stud\- of 
law in the office of Jdlm C. l^uUitt, and in the law de- 
])arlnunt of the lhii\ ersit_\- of Pcnns_\-l\ania, from which 
he graduated as Bachelor of Laws in 1868. He then 
enteretl u[)on active professional practice, continuing in 
association with Mr. Bullitt imtil Januar_\' I, 1872, when 
he openeil an office for himself During this interval, 
in 1866, I'rinceton College conferred upon him the 
degree of i\. M. W'liile thus engaged in study and 
practice he took an acti\x' part in military affairs, liaving 
joined the I-'irst Regiment, National Guard of Pennsyl- 
\-ania, on his return from the na\\-, and continuing con- 
nected with it for man}- years, first as captain and 



assistant (juartermaster on the staff of Brigadier-Gene- 
ral H. P. Muirheid, then as major and aide-de-camp on 
the staff of Major-General J. P. Bankson, and, finalh-, as 
assistant (juartermaster-general of the P'irst Brigade, 
National Guaid of Penns_\-l\ania. He resigned from the 
National Guard in 1 .S78, in consequence of the increasing 
requirements of his professional duties. 

As an attorney Mr. Huey's success has been marked, 
and he ranks to-d.iy lUi-iong the leaders of the bar. 
During the existence of the bankruptc)' law- of 186S 
he had the largest bankrupt business of any of the 
practitioners in the Ignited States Courts of this district, 
and on more than one occasion was recjuested b\- Judge 
Cadwalader, tluring pressure of business, to sit with him 
and pass on pending cases. He has also h.mdied many 
important corporation cases, among them some of the 
heaviest tax cases disposed of at the State ca|)ital. In 
1872 he was admitted to the Supreme Court of the 
State, and in 1880, on motion of General Benjamin T. 
Butler, w-as admitted to practice in the Sujirenie Court of 
the United States. 

Mi-. Hue_\-'s successful handling of corporation cases 
has made him counsel for numerous insurance and other 
companies, including tlie Penn Mutual, the Phi_enix, and 
the .-Etna Life and the Spring Garden Plre Insurance 
Companies, with many others. He is also counsel for 
man\' leading business houses both in Philadelphia and 
New York, has secured important decisions in cases iu- 
\olving banks, and took an acti\e part in the litigation 
attending the reorganization of the Philadelphia and 
Reading Railroad Company-, etc., 

His political duties have been confined to acting as 
delegate in the city and State conventions ; but he long 
served as a director and secretar}- of the Lhiion League. 
On his retirement from the latter position in 1888, he 
was unanimously voted the gold medal of the organiza- 
tion, and elected its \-ice-president. He is also a member 
of the Lo\-al Legion and of the Grand Ami}' of the 
Republic. In 1868 he was appointed a member of the 
Board of liducation of this city, and in that office has 
served as chairman of the committees on Lhtiversit}- and 
Boys' Central High School. He has been a director of 
the Art Club since its organization, w-as one of the first 
board of govcrners of the LTniversity Club, and has been 
a director of the Young Men's Christian Association 
since 1870, and of the West Philadelphia Institute and 
the Western Home for Poor Children since 1875. He 
is an elder in the Presb}-terian Church, antl superinten- 
dent of one of the largest Sunday-schools in this city. 
With these many duties to perform, Mr. Huey has found 
time to attend to literary pursuits, has gathered a fine 
library, and has made two extended trips to Europe, on 
his return from each of which he prepared and delivered 
lectures on the subject of his observations abroad. 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



LEVI KNOWLES. 

Levi Kxowles, Ioiilj promiiicntl_\- connected with the 
flour interests of Phihidelphia, was born in Hunterdon 
County, New Jersey, October 26, 1S13. After his period 
of school-Hfe he entered a country store as a clerk, and 
later went to Ohio, where he spent three years, part of 
u hich time he was engaged in a wholesale store in Cin- 
cinnati. The salar)- here was small, but the opportunities 
for obtaining a knowledge of business were good, and 
when, at the end of this period, he remosed to Philadel- 
phia, he had gained that experience in business manage- 
ment which was to serve him in good stead during his 
later life. He obtained in that city a position in the 
Western Bank (now the Western National Bank), first 
as clerk, and afterwards as teller, making there an ex- 
cellent record for abilit}- and faithful devotion to his 
duties. In 1835 he resigned his position in the bank, 
and engaged in the ilour business, a line of trade with 
which he was to remain connected for fifty-three 
years. 

Some years after retiring from the Western Bank, Mr. 
Knowles was elected a director of that institution, in 
which position he still remains, honored and respected 
as one of the oldest members of the Board. His busi- 
ness career was successful from the start, although the 
country entered one of its greatest periods of trade de- 
pressions shortly after he began. He had made a care- 
ful study of the subject of finance, and, although he 
passed through several panic periods, always met his ob- 
ligations promptl}- and ne\er suffered in credit. As a 
successful merchant, he held membersiiip in the Com- 
mercial Exchange, Chamber of Commerce, Board of 
Trade, and Corn Exchange. Of the \-oung men em- 
ployed by him, no less than si.x, \vlio had acquired a 
knowledge of trade in his em[)loy, left him to start flour 
houses of their own, and ha\e all been successful, being 
now at the head of prominent establishments. This fact 
Mr. Knowles still regards with much pleasure and satis- 
faction. 

Mr. Knowles associated with him his son, William 
B. Knowles, retaining the firm name of L. Knowles & 
Co., and, on the death of his son in 1875, admitted to 
partnership his son-in-law, Charles P. Perot. In 1888 
he retired from business, Mr. Perot succeeding him. 
The business is still carried on, the firm name being 
changed to Charles P. Perot & Co. 

The firm was originally located on Market Street abo\e 
Twelfth, and continued there until 1878, when the busi- 
ness was removed to its present location at No. 252 
North Broad Street. On January 30, 1883, the Broad 
Street store was destro)-ed by fire, together with a large 
stock of flour ; but, with that energy which commands 
success, Mr. Knowles established himself in temporary 




quarters before the fire was entireh' extinguished, and 
continued his business without interruption, the premises 
being promptly rebuilt. 

Mr. Knowles has ahva}-s been earnest!)' interested in 
the charitable institutions of this city, and since his retire- 
ment from business has devoted much time to them. He 
was one of the original members, and is now treasurer of 
the Board of Trustees, of the Baptist Home of Philadel- 
phia, and holds the same relation to the Penns\-l\ania 
Working Home for Blind Men, the Industrial Home for 
Blind Women, and the Penns\-lvania Retreat for Aged and 
Infirm Blind Persons, three highly useful institutions in 
West Philadelphia. In addition, he is connected with 
the Education Society and the Ministers' and Widows' 
Fund. Two of these positions he has held for fort\--four 
years. 

Mr. Knowles was one of the originators, and is now 
President, of the Philadelphia City Institute, the I'ree 
Public Library at Eighteenth and Chestnut Streets; 
and is Vice-President of the American Sunday-School 
Union, of the .Societ_\- for the Pre\'ention of Cruelty to 
Animals, and of the \'oung Men's Institute. He is also 
a prominent member of tlie Board of Trustees of the 
Southern Home for Destitute Children. P^>r a number 
of years he served as treasurer of the American Suntla\-- 
School Union, and it was largely due to his efforts that 
this organization was relieved from a depressed financial 
condition. His knowledge of finance, in fact, has enabled 
him to deal satisfactoriK' with the funds of the \-arious 
institutions for which he has acted as treasurer. Mr. 
Knowles is fond of home life, and devotes much time to 
reading. In political affairs he is an earnest advocate of 
municipal reform and the withdrawal of city interests 
from partisan control. 



39 



3o6 



MAKERS OF PHILADELPHIA. 




WILLIAM T. B. ROBHRTS. 

William Tavluk ]5lakf. Rui:kkts, master builder, is 
of English ancestry, but his people for two generations 
have been residents of this country. He is a Philadel- 
phian by birth and residence, having been born in this 
city on Jluic 15, 1850, and received his education in its 
public schools. When he was about fourteen his parents 
moved to the vicinit}' of Franklin, Venango Count}', 
Pennsylvania, where his father became a farmer and 
manager of the Asher Petroleum Company, while the 
son obtained his initiation into the business of life by 
doing firm work during the spring and summer seasons, 
and lumbering in the foix'sts during the remainder of the 
year. 

After some three _\-ears thus engaged, the elder Mr. 
Roberts returned with his fimil_\- to Philadelphia, where 
he apprenticed his son to the trade of carpenter antl 
builder, an occupation for which the youth had mani- 
fested a strong liking. His apprenticeship ended, he 
joineil with his father in buikling oiierations, antl .ifter- 
wards continued in that business on his own account, 
building both on speculation and as a contractor for 
capitalists. The superior character (if liis work soon 
won him a reputation as an able and honorable builder, 
one who could be trusted to keep conscientiously to his 
contracts, making honest work the first and profit the 
second consideration. The houses built b)' him were 
found to command a ready sale and good prices, and his 
reputation soon brought him abundance of contracts, his 



business as a builder having grown enormously during 
the past twenty years. 

The field of Mr. Roberts's labors has been in the 
northern section of Philadelphia and in the outlying 
districts of Tioga and Germantown, and also in the city 
of Scranton, he ha\iiig erectecl in all more than two 
thousand dwellings, some of which are large and costly 
structures. One of the most extensive and important 
of these was the Aubre}- Hotel, a speculatixe enterprise 
during the Centennial Exposition of 1876. This extended 
on Walnut Street from Thirty-third to Thirty-fourth 
Streets, antl cost about ^250,000. The imposing resi- 
dence lif Mr. P. A. V>. Widener, at Broad Street and 
Ciirard Avenue, one of the handsomest and most costly 
private residences in the city, was built by him, as also the 
two duellings adjoining it. These three residences are 
splendid examples of the builder's skill, and highh' orna- 
mental additions to the fine a\-enue on wliich they front. 
Mr. Roberts has, in addition to these large and costly 
structures, erected great numbers of the dwellings which 
ha\e been added so profusely within recent years to the 
northern section of the cit\-. which is ncnv growing with 
phenomenal rapidity from the older built-up district into 
the lately open lots and fields which formerly bounded 
I the city to the north. Large numbers of these have 
I been erected for Messrs. Widener and P^lkins, the leading 
members of the Traction street railwa}- s)-ndicate, tliese 
gentlemen having purchased large tracts of land in the 
section of the cit)- reached b\- their northward stretching 
lines of railway, and co\-ered these with comfortable 
dwellings. The entire management of the erection of 
these buildings was given b_\' them to Mr. Roberts, 
whose work lias been so satisfactorily performed that 
his wealthy patrons entrusted to him the building of 
their palatial private residences. That of Mr. Widener 
we ha\e .spoken of That of Mr. Elkins is a magnificent 
structure, which gi\x's the impression rather of a statel)' 
public edifice tlian of a gentleman's dwelling-house. In 
aildition to these ilwellings, Mr. Roberts was the builder 
of the extensive buildings of the Pennsylvania Iron 
Company, at Fiftieth Street .and Merion Avenue, in- 
cluding offices, machine-shops, foundry, and \arious other 
shops. 

Mr. Roberts has taken no part in politics, and is not 
a member of an}- social organization, his leisure being 
entirely gixen to the society of his family. He was 
married in June, iSji, to Miss Emma J. Britton, and 
has two children, a son and a daughter. 



INDEX 



AiMMi;-, Chari.k-' V. . 
Adam?. Ezra E. . . 
Adams, Josiah R. . 
Addicks, J- Edward 
Agnew, D. IIayks . 
Alexander, Robert 
Allison, Joski'H . . 
Archer, Samuel. . 
Ash, JosErii V. . . . 
.■\shmead, Lehman P, 
.\yer, Nathan \V. . 

I'.ACHE, Alexander D 
Uaily, Joel J. . . 
Baird, John . . . 
Ijaker, Alered'G. 
Li.\LD\viN, Matthlvs W 
Barnes, Ali;ert . . 
Bartra.m, John . . 
Beck, Paul, Jr. . . 
Benson, Alexander 
Bergner, Gustavus 
Bhjdle, ChA1'XL\N . 
Bhidle, Nicholas . 
Bingham, Henry H 
BiNNEY', Horace . . 
Bishop, John S. . . 
Blanchard, Josei'H N 
Boker, Geori;e 11. . 
Boyd, David M , Jr 
Brewster, Frederick ( 
Bkinton, Daniel G. 
Brooke, Charll.s W. 
Brooke, P'rancis M. 
Brooks, Edward . 
Brown, William H. 
Bullitt, John C. . 
Burroughs, H. N. . 



Cadwalader, Charles E. 
Cadwalader, John 
Cadwalader, Thomas 
Campbell James U. 
Carey", Henry C. . 
Carey, M.\thew . . 
Carty, Jerome . . 
Cassatt, Alexander 
Cassidy, Lewis C. . 
Caven, Joseph L. . 
Chapman, Nathaniel 
Chii.ds, George W. 
Chipman, Charlfj . 



2S3 

246 

2SS 

5,! 
2g6 

75 

234 
2S7 

286 
154 

42 

289 

222 

1S4 
30 

68 
145 

221 

35 
252 



140 
20 

253 
160 

78 
293 
151 
215 
301 
225 
204 
213 
"3 
282 

90 
107 
106 

237 
105 

258 

'33 
1S2 

13S 
37 
93 

200 



Clay, .\ntony A. . . 
Clothier, Isaac H. . . 
Coates, CIeoroe Morrison 
Colaiian, John B. . . 
CoLi.uM, Richard S. . 
Conner, David . . . 
CoNovER, David F. . 
Conrad, Robert T. . 
CoNWEi.L. Russell H. 

Cooke, Jay 

Cope, Edward I). . . 
Cope, Thomas T. . . . 
Cramp, Charles H. . 
Cramp, William . . . 
Croskev, Henry . . 



Dallas, Alexander J 
Dallas, George M. 
Darlington, Joseph ( 
Davis, L. Clarke 
Davis, Richard H. 
Dearhorn, George E 
Dechert. Robert V. 
De Coursev, Samuel 
Dickinson, John . . 
DissTON, Henry . . 
Doak, James, Jr. 
DoBsoN, John . . . 
DoLAN. Thomas . . 
DoRAN. Joseph I. 
Dreer. Henry .\. . 
Drexel, Antikinv J 
Drexel, Francis A. 

Eisner, Moritz . . 
Elkins, William L. 
ElversoN, James . 
EsLiNG, Charles H. .A 
Etting, Charles E. 
Evans, Oliver . . 

Farreli.v, Stephen 
Field, John .... 
FiTLER, Edwin 11. . 
Fitzgerald, Thom.vs 
Ford, William H. . 
Forney, John W'. . 
Forrest, Edwin . . 
Franklin. Benjamin 
Frazer, Persiior . 
Furness, William H 



257 
149 
300 

70 
207 
241 

91 

44 
■47 

57 
164 
lS5 



203 

21 
1S7 
191 
170 

I7> 
128 

92 
220 

10 
24S 
302 
"7 
'75 
176 

23S 
79 

55 

270 

124 

255 
267 

95 



294 
291 
211 
122 
229 
162 

41 

8 

96 

129 



CIazzam, JosKi'ii .VI. . . 
(Iii.roy', John J. . . . 
GiMBEL, Adam .... 
(JiRARD, Stephen . . 
GoDEY, Louis A. . . . 
Gorman, Ja.mes E. . . 
GowAN, Franklin B. . 
Graff, John F. . . . 
Graham, George S. . 
Gray, Henry W. . . 
Green, John P. . , . 
Grier, Robert C. . . 
Griscom, Clement A. 
Gross, Samuel D. . . 
Grubb, Edward B. . 

Hare, John I. C. . . 
ILare, Rober I .... 
Harris, Franklin M. 
Harrlson, Joseph, Jr. 
Harritv, William F. 
Hartshorne, Joseph . 
Henry, Alexander . 
Herring, Charles P. 
Hodge, G. Wooesey . 
H0LMF.S, Henry . . . 

HORSTMANN, WlLI.IA.M I 

HoTCHKiN, Samuel F. 
Howe, Mark .\ntonv 
HuEV, Samuel P.. . . 
Huev, Samuel C. . . 
Huggard, John . . . 

Inoersoll, Jared . . 
Irvin, Elihu C. . . . 

Jayne, David .... 
Jones, Richard M. . 
Jones, William . . . 
Jordan, Pi;ter .\. . . 

Kane, Elisha K. . . 
Keim, George DeB. . 
Kei.ley, William D. 
KiRKBRiDE, Thomas S. 
Kneass, Strickland . 
Knight, Edward C. . 
Knowles, Levi . . . 

Lambert, William H. 
Landreth, David . . 
Lang, John 



Je 



W. 



PAGE 
218 
264 

'73 

17 

38 

208 

89 

87 
167 
137 
193 
243 
199 
109 
142 

73 
49 

285 
121 

232 

235 
209 
102 
299 

212 

66 
201 
156 
304 

48 
120 

18 
206 

loS 

104 

65 

77 

99 
61 

52 

81 

76 

51 

305 



195 



;oS 



IXDEX. 



PAGE 

Lea, Isaac 146 

Leidy, Joseph 59 

Lewis, Ellis 179 

Lewis, William H 280 

Liri'iNCOTT, Joshua U 46 

Lutle, Amos R 223 

LrnxETON, Wiijjam E 216 

Logan, James 7 



McAi.eer, William . 
McArthur, John . . 
McCleli.an, Georiuc I 
McCi.uRE, Alexander 
McCoNNELL, Samuel D 
McCooK, Henry C. . 
McCreary, George 1) 
McCuLLY, William F. 
McDowell, Marcei.i.us 
McKean, Thomas . . 
McLeod, Archibald A, 
McMichael, Clayton 
McMichael, Morton 
Mann, William H. 
Mayer, Charles V. 
Meade, George G. 
Mendelson, Joseph 
Merchant, Clarke 
Meredith, William M 
Morris, Effingham B. 
Morris, Rohert . . 
MoRTiiN, Samuel G 
MoRwrrz, Edward. 

MOTT, LUCRETIA . . 

MucKLfe, Mark R. . 
Muhr, Simon . . . 
MuTCHMuRE, Samuel A 

Neagle, John .... 
Neff, John R. ... 

NORRIS, ISAAl .... 

North, (Jeorge 1L . 

(Jellers, Richard G. 
(Jgden, RoliKRT C. . . 
O'Neill, Charles . . 

I'ADDOCK, WlLl:UR F. 

i'AGE, James 

Pancoast, Joseph . . 
I'atterson, Robert . 
1'attison, Robert E. 
Paulding, Tatnall . 
Paxson, Edward M. . 
Peai.k, Charles Wilson 
Peckham, Leroy p.. . . 



205 

210 

56 

150 

159 
161 
230 
152 

256 

64 
166 

43 
245 
202 

71 

271 

276 

180 

190 

14 

31 

S5 

178 

188 

263 

5S 

197 
26 
98 

16S 

94 
ilS 

174 

36 

40 

27 

125 

153 

275 

12 

114 



Peirce, Cyrus N 290 

Peirce, Thomas M 226 

Penn, William 5 

Pepper, William 266 

Perot, T. Morris 163 

Perry, James DeW 158 

Physick, Philip S 194 

Pollock, James 268 

Potter, Alonzo 148 

Potter, Thomas 224 

Potts, William F 274 

Poulson, Zachakiah 242 

Powel, John Hark 236 

Pratt, Henry 250 

Preston, Ann 198 

Prevost, Sutherland M 22S 

Price, Eli K 29 

PuGii, Charles E 227 

(JUEEN, James W 298 

Randall, Samuel J 80 

Randolph, Jacob 244 

Ravvle, William 33 

Rawle, William H 112 

Rittenhouse, David 97 

Roberts, George 1! 88 

Roberts, William T. B 306 

Rogers, John 1 134 

RoRKE, Allen li 231 

ROTHERMEL, PeTER F,, SR 82 

Rothermel, Peter F.,Jr 83 

Rush, Benjamin .... 13 

Rush, Richard di 

Ryan, Patrh.k J 60 

Sartain, John 132 

Savidge, Joseph 196 

Scott, Thomas A 54 

Sellers, Coleman 116 

Sellers, William 239 

Shapley, Rufus E 303 

Sharswood, George 45 

Sheppard, Isaac A. . 189 

Shipley, Samuel R 155 

Siiii'PEN, Wii iiam, Jr 2S1 

SllORTKIDGE, NaIIIAN P 2g7 

Simpson, Matthew 157 

SiNGERLY, William M 192 

Sinn, Andrew C 115 

Smedley, Samuel 1 183 

Smith, Charles E 141 

Smith, J. I'railey 260 

Smith, Richard P 262 

Smith, Russell 143 

Snowden, Archibald Loudon 254 



PAGE 

Snowden, George R 217 

South, George W 69 

Steel, Edward T 292 

Stetson, John B 240 

Stevens, William P. 84 

Stevenson, Howard A 131 

.Stevenson, Samuei 130 

Stoddart, Joseph M., Sr 72 

Stuart, Edwin S 270 

Sullivan, James F 277 



Sully, Thomas . . . 
SuppLEE, John W. . . 
Sutherland, Joel 11. . 



177 



34 



Teller, Benjamin F 278 

! Teller, Joseph R 273 

Terry, Henry C 63 

I Thayer, Martin R 74 

Thompson, James 181 

Thompson, Samuel c; 214 

Thomson, John E 110 

TiBBALS, HaLSEY J 219 

Tilghman, William i6 

Vail, Louis D 284 

Vaux, Richari 144 

Veale, Moses 136 

Wagnek, William 67 

Waln, Robert 249 

Waltcin, Fred M 135 

Wanamaker, John 119 

Warburton, Charles E 139 

Wayland, H. L 265 

Welsh, John 39 

Welsh, William 259 

WiiTHERiLL, Samuel 100 

Wharton, Joseph 86 

Whitaker, Ozi William 169 

White, John R 261 

White, William 15 

WiEDERSHEIM, JOHN A 165 

Williamson, Isaiah V 50 

Wilson, Alexander 28 

WisTAR, Caspar 24 

WisTAR, Richard 233 

Wis lER, Francis loi 

Lister, Langhokne 103 

WoLsiEi'-FER, Edmund . 295 

Wood, James Frederick 47 

Wright, Robert J 251 

Varnall, Thomas C in 

Young, James R 269 

Young, John R 172 






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